Digital Commons Network^™

Simulation Model To Estimate Pretreatment (Baseline) Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels In People Living With Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Jing Gu, Robert J Sanchez, Alexandra Koumas, Sandeep Tripathi, Harshit Dixit, Adam Amer, Laurence Sperling, Christie M Ballantyne

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Pretreatment levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are a primary consideration for the clinical diagnosis of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH). However, determination of pretreatment LDL-C can be challenging in this population because many individuals begin lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) early in life before diagnosis of HoFH.

Methods: A previously developed simulation model was adapted to estimate pretreatment LDL-C in people living with HoFH, based on their treated LDL-C value and current LLT (statin, ezetimibe, alirocumab, evolocumab, and/or lipoprotein apheresis).

Results: The tool includes an interface for users to provide relevant details for estimating non-clinical pretreatment LDL-C, specifically for patients suspected …

Minimum Standards For Training In Colorectal Endoscopic Mucosal Resection Among Advanced Endoscopy Trainees, Dennis Yang, Ernesto Robalino Gonzaga, Muhammad Khalid Hasan, Arvind Julius Trindade, Mark Radlinski, Rebecca A Burbridge, Jeffrey Mosko, Pushpak Taunk, Salmaan Jawaid, Mohamed O Othman, David L Diehl, Harshit S Khara, Quin Liu, Srinivas Gaddam, Harry Aslanian, Shailendra S Chauhan, Amrita Sethi, John Poneros, Jason Samarasena, Ali M Ahmed, Uzma D Siddiqui, Dennis Chen, Moamen Gabr, Andrew Y Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background and study aims: Data on colorectal endoscopic mucosal resection (C-EMR) training during advanced endoscopy fellowship remain limited. We aimed to determine the number of procedures required by an "average" advanced endoscopy trainee (AET) to achieve competence in cognitive and technical C-EMR skills.

Methods: AETs from advanced endoscopy training programs (AETPs) were graded on every C-EMR using a standardized assessment tool. Cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis was used to generate individual and aggregate learning curves to estimate the minimum number of cases required to achieve competence for overall, technical, and cognitive components of C-EMR. AETs completed a self-assessment questionnaire on C-EMR …

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitor And Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Discontinuation In Patients With Ckd, L Parker Gregg, Peter A Richardson, Vijay Nambi, Laura A Petersen, Michael E Matheny, Salim S Virani, Sankar D Navaneethan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Key Points:

1. Treatment discontinuation is common among patients with CKD prescribed sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors (discontinued in 37%) or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA; discontinued in 47%).

2. Discontinuation of SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 RA was associated with recent hospitalizations, Black race, Hispanic ethnicity, and vascular disease.

3. Discontinuation of both agents was associated with death and cardiovascular events.

Background: Little is known about the association of discontinuation of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) with outcomes in patients with CKD.

Methods: We identified adults with CKD stages 3–4 from 2005 to 2022 in the Veterans …

Long-Term Mortality Following Sars-Cov-2 Infection In Rural Versus Urban Dwellers With Autoimmune Or Inflammatory Rheumatic Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis From The National Covid Cohort Collaborative, A Jerrod Anzalone, Lesley E Jackson, Namrata Singh, Maria I Danila, Elizabeth Reisher, Rena C Patel, Jasvinder A Singh

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: Autoimmune or inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) increase the risk for poor COVID-19 outcomes. Although rurality is associated with higher post-COVID-19 mortality in the general population, whether rurality elevates this risk among people with AIRD is unknown. We assessed associations between rurality and post-COVID-19 all-cause mortality, up to two years post infection, among people with AIRD using a large nationally sampled US cohort.

Methods: This retrospective study used the National COVID Cohort Collaborative, a medical records repository containing COVID-19 patient data. We included adults with two or more AIRD diagnostic codes and a COVID-19 diagnosis documented between April 2020 and …

Association Between Parathyroid Hormone Concentration And Incident Atrial Fibrillation In Older Persons With Kidney Failure Initiating Dialysis, Pascale Khairallah, Sai Liu, Maria E Montez-Rath, Kevin F Erickson, Tara I Chang, Wolfgang C Winkelmayer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in persons with kidney failure on hemodialysis. In the general population, higher intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels were found to be associated with presence of AF. Whether iPTH associates with AF in patients on hemodialysis is unknown.

Methods: Using merged USRDS-DaVita data (2006-2011), we selected persons aged 67+ years who initiated hemodialysis and survived 120 days. Eligible persons had continuous Medicare A + B coverage from 2 years prior to kidney failure and no diagnosis of AF. Sociodemographic, comorbidity, and clinical information were abstracted from Medicare forms, billing claims, and electronic health records. iPTH …

Clues To Transcription/Replication Collision-Induced Dna Damage: It Was Rnap, In The Chromosome, With The Fork, Matthew B Cooke, Christophe Herman, Priya Sivaramakrishnan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

DNA replication and RNA transcription processes compete for the same DNA template and, thus, frequently collide. These transcription-replication collisions are thought to lead to genomic instability, which places a selective pressure on organisms to avoid them. Here, we review the predisposing causes, molecular mechanisms, and downstream consequences of transcription-replication collisions (TRCs) with a strong emphasis on prokaryotic model systems, before contrasting prokaryotic findings with cases in eukaryotic systems. Current research points to genomic structure as the primary determinant of steady-state TRC levels and RNA polymerase regulation as the primary inducer of excess TRCs. We review the proposed mechanisms of TRC-induced …

Folate Receptor Β Performs An Immune Checkpoint Function In Activated Macrophages, Fenghua Zhang, Md Yusuf Al-Amin, Sagar Utturkar, Rina Jiang, Gregory Cresswell, Rami Alfar, Ian Ophaug-Johansen, Gabriel Bachman, Madduri Srinivasarao, Richard Finnell, Amaya Puig-Kröger, Timothy Ratliff, Philip S Low

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Monocytes and macrophages are sentinels of the immune system that distinguish themselves from other cells by expressing the beta isoform of the folate receptor (FRβ). Because FRβ does not bind folate until the monocyte/macrophage is exposed to immunosuppressive cytokines, the question naturally arose whether FRβ might also perform an immune-related function. To examine this matter, we compared the properties of wild type (WT) and FRβ knockout mice. We observe that FRβ knockout (KO) mice display autoimmune symptoms that can include alopecia, enlarged spleens, and dermatitis, despite having normal cellular folate levels. We further demonstrate that syngeneic tumors (TRAMP C2, MC38) …

Med12 Loss-Of-Function Variants As A Cause Of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia In Females With Hardikar Syndrome And Nonspecific Intellectual Disability, Eric C Kao, Elizabeth A Mizerik, Carlos A Bacino, Hongzheng Dai, Liesbeth Vossaert, Daryl A Scott

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Mediator complex subunit 12 (MED12) is required for the assembly of the kinase module of Mediator, a regulatory complex that controls the formation of the RNA polymerase II-mediated preinitiation complex. MED12-related disorders display unique gender-specific genotype-phenotype associations and include X-linked recessive Opitz-Kaveggia syndrome, Lujan-Fryns syndrome, Ohdo syndrome, and nonspecific intellectual disability in males predominantly carrying missense variants, and X-linked dominant Hardikar syndrome and nonspecific intellectual disability in females known to predominantly carry de novo nonsense/frameshift and nonsense/missense variants, respectively. MED12 was previously identified as a low-penetrance candidate gene for non-isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH+). At the time, however, there was …

Id-Gba: Subgraph Extension With Information Distance Guilt By Association In Complex Networks, Predrag Obradovic, Vladimir Kovacevic, Aleksandar Milosavljevic, Varduhi Petrosyan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Here, we introduce the ID-GBA (Information Distance Guilt By Association) method to expand highly connected sets of nodes by deploying a novel algorithm for subgraph extension based on the guilt-by-association principle and information distance. In this study, ID-GBA was utilized to expand disease clusters, and identify novel disease genes. We first validate its ability to expand related disease sets from disease/disease graphs built using Open Targets' gene association scores. We then analyze disease/control gene expression networks and show that ID-GBA recaptures known disease genes in nine disease/control graphs. Compared to existing methods such as Random Walk with Restarts and Personalized …

Bayesian Covariate-Dependent Circadian Modeling Of Rest-Activity Rhythms, Beniamino Hadj-Amar, Vaishnav Krishnan, Marina Vannucci

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

We propose a Bayesian covariate-dependent anti-logistic circadian model for analyzing activity data collected via wrist-worn wearable devices. The proposed approach integrates covariates into the modeling of the amplitude and phase parameters, facilitating cohort-level analysis with enhanced flexibility and interpretability. To promote model sparsity, we employ an l1-ball projection prior, enabling precise control over complexity while identifying significant predictors. We assess performances on simulated data and then apply the method to real-world actigraphy data from people with epilepsy. Our results demonstrate the model’s effectiveness in uncovering complex relationships among demographic, psychological, and medical factors influencing rest-activity rhythms, offering insights for …

Defining Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex: Using Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder As A Framework For Proposing Preliminary Diagnostic Criteria, Megan Howard, Teni Davoudian, Nicole H Cirino

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER) is a distinct neurobiological condition characterized by negative alterations in mental state in response to milk letdown during lactation. Symptoms vary by patient and can include feelings of sadness, anxiety or agitation. Importantly, the symptoms are brief, typically lasting no more than 5 minutes. Prevalence has been found between 6 and 27% of lactating women, but studies show heterogeneity, due in part to inconsistent definition. D-MER is not currently classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) or the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), which presents a challenge for researchers of the …

A Murine Model Of Gestational Diabetes Reveals Masld Risk And Alterations In Markers Of Hepatic Mitochondrial Metabolism, Grace E Shryack, Alexa A Krause, Simone Hernandez Ruano, Laura C Schulz, Kathleen A Pennington, R Scott Rector

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) impacts roughly 1 in 7 pregnancies and results in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in 30% of these women. Nonetheless, there exists a dearth of investigation into the relationship between GDM and MASLD. Here, we sought to investigate the potential role of hepatic mitochondrial function in GDM and MASLD.

Methods: One week prior to conception and throughout pregnancy, mice were fed either a low-fat control diet (CD) or a high-fat, high-sucrose (HFHS) diet to induce an established model of GDM. Maternal livers were collected at day 0, 6.5, 13.5 and 17.5 of pregnancy. Hepatic …

Follow-Up Adherence After Teleretinal Screening For Diabetic Retinopathy, Paul D Chamberlain, Rishabh C Date, Kevin L Shen, Giovanni A Campagna, Linda B Piller, Yvonne I Chu, Christina Y Weng

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Aim: Determine the follow-up rate for patients referred following an abnormal teleretinal imaging (TRI) screening and examine patient characteristics predictive of follow-up nonadherence.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study of patients screened between August 2014 and July 2016 in the Harris Health System (HHS) in Houston, TX. All diabetic patients referred for in-person examination, who had data for all study variables, and who did not have established ophthalmic care in the HHS within the previous 2 years were included. Data collected included TRI findings, clinic location, age, race, gender, hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), and insulin use. The primary outcome was whether …

Finite Element Modeling In Obstetrics And Gynecology: Advances, Applications, And Challenges, Taylor Moseley, Ashley J Hicks, Elizabeth M Cosgriff-Hernandez, Manuel Karl Rausch, Julie Hakim

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Finite element modeling (FEM) is a critical tool in biomechanics and biomedical engineering, offering valuable insights where in vivo or ex vivo investigations are not possible. This review specifically highlights the diverse applications of FEM within obstetrics and gynecology through a comprehensive analysis of the literature. We explore the past use of FEM in analyzing complications affecting pelvic floor structures, urinary continence, and reproduction. The potential contributions of FEM in addressing these challenges are summarized and future directions for its application in obstetrics and gynecology are highlighted.

Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (Ace) V.5.3 Winds: Validation And Model Comparisons, Matthew Wyatt, Peter F. Bernath, Chris Boone, Leo Lavy, Ryan Johnson

Physics Faculty Publications

The Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS) uses limb geometry to measure transmittance spectra of Earth's atmosphere by solar occultation. Line-of-sight wind speeds can be derived via Doppler shifts of molecular lines in infrared spectra. The wind look direction angles relative to geodetic north are derived from geometry. We validate the new ACE version 5.3 (v.5.3) line-of-sight winds with MIGHTI and meteor radar vector wind observations and find a -15 m s^-¹ (+15 m s^-¹) sunrise (sunset) shift above 80 km. We also compare line-of-sight winds from ACE-FTS v.5.2 and v.5.3 with vector winds from …

Spin Versus Position Conjugation In Quantum Simulations With Atoms: Application To Quantum Chemistry, N. A. Moroz, K. S. Tikhonov, L. V. Gerasimov, A. D. Manukhova, I. B. Bobrov, S. S. Straupe, D. V. Kupriyanov

Physics Faculty Publications

The permutation symmetry is a fundamental attribute of the collective wave function of indistinguishable particles. It makes a difference for the behavior of collective systems having different quantum statistics but existing in the same environment. Here we show that for some specific quantum conjugation between the spin and spatial degrees of freedom the indistinguishable particles can behave similarly for either quantum statistics. In particular, a mesoscopically scaled collection of atomic qubits, mediated by optical tweezers, can model the behavior of a valent electronic shell compounded with nuclear centers in molecules. This makes possible quantum simulations of mono- and divalent bonds …

M Star Opacities: The B³Π–X³Δ Band System Of Tio, Peter F. Bernath, Manish Bhusal, Mirek R. Schmidt

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The spectra of titanium monoxide (TiO) are used to classify M stars. TiO experimental cross sections based on a high-resolution emission spectrum recorded with a Fourier transform spectrometer at the National Solar Observatory are used for the analysis of the TiO B³Π–X³Δ transition (𝛾' system). The 3–2 and 4–3 vibrational bands are analyzed for the first time, and the analysis of the 2–1 band is revised. The transition dipole moment function from an ab initio calculation is used to calculate the band strengths. These band strengths are used to produce a B³Π–X³Δ line list for the vibrational levels v' ⩽ …

The Association Between Food Benefit Online Ordering And Redemptions: Evidence From The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program For Women, Infants, And Children, Junzhou Zhang, Chuanyi Tang, Kayoung Park, Qi Zhang

Marketing Faculty Publications

Objective:

To examine how the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) online food benefit ordering could influence WIC benefit redemptions.

Design:

A cross-sectional study. We compare the average redemption rates between online ordering early adopters and non-adopters among WIC customers before and after implementing WIC online ordering. A propensity score-weighted difference-in-difference model was used to estimate the coefficients.

Setting:

The Oklahoma WIC programme and a grocery store chain in Oklahoma.

Participants:

12743 Oklahoma WIC households that had redeemed their food benefits at the grocery store chain in 2020.

Results:

WIC online ordering significantly positively affected redemption …

(In)Attention To Attractive Brand Alternatives, Danielle J. Brick, Veronica L. Thomas

Marketing Faculty Publications

Understanding how consumers maintain their brand relationships has important implications for marketers as committed consumers contribute significant value to firms. In the present research, we propose and test one such way consumers protect their brand relationships, namely through attentional avoidance of attractive alternative partners. Across multiple studies, we find support for our theory that committed consumers avoid attending to alternative brand partners by recalling less about and spending less time focused on attractive alternatives. We further find that this inattention occurs because consumers view the competing brand as a threat to the consumer’s current relationship. In addition, we investigate a …

Moral Identity And Its Relationship To Higher Education Mentoring And Community Service Engagement, Maria O. Rodriguez

Dissertations

Problem

A moral action is a result of the engagement of multiple psychological processes set in motion when an individual faces a moral conflict. Research suggests that an individual's moral reasoning and moral identity strongly influence the psychological processes that precede a moral action. Recent studies have shown that higher education positively influences students' moral reasoning; however, there is a lack of understanding as to the degree to which higher education can influence the moral identity of students.

Method

This study performed a quantitative cross-sectional study to investigate the relationship between independent variables—mentoring experiences and community service engagement—and dependent variables—moral …

Support Needs Of Agrarian Women To Build Household Livelihood Resilience: A Case Study Of The Mekong River Delta, Tran Thi Ngoc Tran

Dissertations

Problem

Rural livelihood faces significant challenges due to the increasing frequency and severity of climate change impacts. However, the development of women’s livelihood resilience remains constrained by gender-blind policies, limited sex-disaggregated data, and a lack of integration of gender-specific needs and priorities in resilience-building interventions. This study aims to address these critical gaps. This study aims at exploring the perceived support needs of rural agrarian women in building household livelihood resilience to climate change. Specifically, it seeks to (1) understand how household livelihood resilience is perceived by rural agrarian women, and (2) identify the support they require to effectively adapt …

Assessment Of The Level Of Relevancy Of Theological Education In The Chinese Context, Jacky Yeung

Dissertations

Problem

The contextualization of theological education has been a topic of academic discussion for many years with scholars exploring various angles related to this subject. Despite the ongoing need for contextualized theological education, an assessment of its relevancy in the Chinese setting has not been extensively studied. This dissertation aims to fill this research gap by assessing the relevancy of Adventist theological education in China and providing recommendations for improvement.

Method

The study employs a mixed-method approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative research methods to gain a comprehensive understanding of the issue. The quantitative stage involves a survey administered to …

An Exploration Of The Clinical Senior Nursing Student Preceptor Relationship, Kimberly Nicole Dunker

Dissertations

Problem

The use of clinical preceptors for training is well documented in the literature as an effective strategy for helping students, new graduates, and RNs orient to their roles in healthcare facilities. The need to ensure that the preceptor is adequately trained and then matched to a preceptee for a successful relationship is a challenge. The healthcare facility does its best to identify a preceptor and ensure adequate training is completed and there is a willingness to facilitate the experience. The academic institution is required to ensure that preceptors are chosen based on criteria outlined by the board of nursing …

War-Displaced International Students: A Qualitative Study Of Factors Influencing The Integration Of Ukrainians At A Midwestern Healthcare College, Ivan Riapolov

Dissertations

Problem

The war in Ukraine has disrupted the country’s higher education system, displacing Ukrainian students and affecting their mental well-being. These students encounter numerous challenges while adapting to new academic and cultural environments abroad. Higher education professionals must recognize and address the unique experiences and needs of international students by region of origin to better serve these populations. This study aimed to explore the factors that influence the social and academic integration of Ukrainian international students into a new culture and to inform institutions of the best practices for creating supportive environments for international students.

Method

The qualitative study explored …

The Relationship Between Mindfulness, Emotion Regulation, And Anxiety Levels Among College Students In Saudi Arabia, Tahani Aljuaid

Dissertations

Problem

Anxiety is one of the most common psychological issues affecting youth globally and is particularly prevalent among Saudi adolescents and college students. Studies in Saudi Arabia have reported anxiety rates ranging from 48.9% to 66.2% among adolescents and high levels of generalized anxiety among university students, especially females (Aldosary et al., 2023; Alhabeeb et al., 2023). Poor emotion regulation has been identified as a key factor associated with anxiety and other mental health difficulties. In recent years, mindfulness has gained attention as a protective factor that promotes better emotion regulation and reduces anxiety symptoms. Despite this growing recognition, there …

International Students' Perceptions Of Enrollment Support Services At Andrews University: An Analysis Of 2021-2024 Data, Erica Fernanda Zaccariotto Batista

Dissertations

Problem

Enrollment services are crucial in shaping students' early experiences by guiding them through complex administrative processes and facilitating their adjustment to the higher education environment. Research indicates that the quality of these services significantly impacts students' first impressions, engagement, and overall satisfaction with their educational journey. However, a gap exists in research specifically focused on how enrollment services affect the experiences of international students navigating higher education. This study examines international students' perceptions regarding enrollment services at Andrews University from 2021 to 2024. It aims to identify the key factors that influence international student enrollment data, evaluate their perceptions …

Burnout And Quality Of Life As Predictors Of Compassion Fatigue In Inner-City Teachers In The United States, Helen Richelle Ceballo-Hernández

Dissertations

Problem

Teachers are under great stress which can result in burnout and the feeling of being overloaded with work. In turn, burnout can induce compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue is often referred to in the literature as repeated exposure to others’ trauma endured by first responders, nurses, and other medical professionals as well as others in the helping profession such as therapists and social workers. The empathy of helping professionals incites compassion fatigue for those whom they help. Teachers, though not originally classified as part of the helping professions, are susceptible to compassion fatigue due to their empathy and the amount …

Inner Life, Spiritual Leadership, And Spiritual Well-Being As Predictors Of The Organizational Performance Of Employees At A Seventh-Day Adventist University In Latin America, Patricio Ordoñez

Dissertations

Problem

While traditional leadership models, such as transactional and transformational leadership, have shown success, recent research highlights the need for leadership approaches that address the spiritual and ethical dimensions of individuals in the workplace. Leaders who fail to integrate spiritual leadership risk negatively impacting employee satisfaction, creativity, and overall organizational performance. Despite the well-established concepts of inner life and spiritual well-being, more research is needed to understand their effects on employee performance in faith-based institutions. This study sought to fill that gap by examining the relationship among inner life, spiritual leadership, and spiritual well-being as predictors of organizational performance among …

Stories Of Seventh-Day Adventist Teachers Of Color And Their Voluntary Job Mobility During Their Early Years Of Teaching, Dollene Trott-Smith

Dissertations

Problem

Teachers of Color in the Seventh-day Adventist school system experience voluntary job mobility and attrition, contributing to increasing teacher turnover rates in the U.S. Since the 1954 federal mandate to desegregate U.S. public schools, this phenomenon has become more pressing. Despite racial and ethnic diversification in school staffing, the White teacher population remains around 80%, with Teachers of Color making up only 20%. While extensive research exists on public school teacher turnover, limited studies focus on private school educators, including those in the Seventh-day Adventist school system.

Method

This transcendental phenomenological qualitative study explored the voluntary job mobility of …

Developing The Leadership Competency Of Critical Thinking In College Students: A Quasi-Experimental Mixed Methods Study At A Small Christian College, Norberto Restrepo

Dissertations

Our world of constant change and complex challenges requires citizens who know how to exercise higher-order thinking skills, and individuals who have developed their metacognitive abilities to a higher extent are better prepared to perform effectively as leaders. This quasi-experimental mixed methods study employed a pre and posttest design to determine whether the critical thinking skills of students at Hartland College could be improved over the course of a one quarter ten week term through the use of biblical worldview instructional approaches such as biblical worldview development, faith learning integration, and deep Bible study that had critical thinking activities embedded …