Digital Commons Network^™

Selective Icu Admission Following Head And Neck Free Flap Reconstruction: A Retrospective Study, Jacob Parker, Emma Dunn, Alisa Vidwans, Mayte Diaz, William Nick Doyle Bs, Samer Elsamna, Tara Mohktari, Christopher Nickel, Matthew Mifsud

USF-LVHN SELECT

No abstract provided.

Standardizing Postoperative Pain Management In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Retrospective Quality Improvement Analysis And Protocol Development, Timothy Nehila, Laura Hayn Pharmd, Amy L. Serfas Bsn, Rn, Roseanna Hanson Bsn, Msn, Breeann Jensen Msn, Crna, Abhaya Seshachar Md, Wendy J. Kowalski Md, Oluwatobi Adegboyega Md, Marybeth Browne Md

USF-LVHN SELECT

No abstract provided.

Peediatrics: Streamlining Uti Diagnosis And Treatment, Margaret B Cornwall, Hina Zaidi Md, Stanley Toyberman Md, Olga Schleyfer Do, Emily Coughlin

USF-LVHN SELECT

No abstract provided.

Significant Disease In Substance-Related Deaths: A Serious Confounder, Clare F Hartman, Michael Johnson, Chandler Grant

USF-LVHN SELECT

No abstract provided.

Detection Of Anti-Cmv Tcr Cdr3s Via Recombination Reads From Rnaseq Files Is Associated With Worse Outcomes For Low-Grade Glioma, Anna Laemmle, Kashvi Chirag Shah, Joyce Zhu, George Blanck

USF-LVHN SELECT

No abstract provided.

Identifying Underserved Locations For Strategic Expansion Of Access To Urologic Care In The Lehigh Valley, Grace Hollis, Angelo A. Baccala Md

USF-LVHN SELECT

No abstract provided.

Improvements In The Thermal Stability And Mechanical Robustness Of Holograms Recorded In Acrylamide/Polyvinyl Alcohol-Based Photopolymers Through The Use Of D-Sorbitol As A Plasticizer, Michael Murray, Aaron Byrne, Izabela Naydenova, Suzanne Martin

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

In this work, a photopolymer formulation is presented that demonstrates significant improvements in layer hardness and temperature stability, while retaining the excellent holographic recording characteristics and ease of preparation associated with acrylamide (AA)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based photopolymers. This is achieved through the use of N-phenyl glycine as an electron donor and, for the first time, D-Sorbitol, a naturally occurring sugar-alcohol, as a plasticizer. The plasticizing effect of D-Sorbitol is demonstrated through the minimal loss of diffraction efficiency (η) observed upon UV bleaching (fixing) of 500 lines/mm gratings, which is evidence for effective mass transport during holographic recording. This solves a key …

A Manifesto For Plant Science Education, Elizabeth Alvey, Andrea Paterlini, Mary E. Williams, Mia E. Cerfonteyn, Samantha Dobbie, Steven Dodsworth, Sonja D. Dunbar, Lauren R. Headland, Anastasia Kolesnikova, Pankaj Kumar, Silvia Manrique, Catherine Mansfield, Sebastian Stroud, Shannon Woodhouse, Hailey Ashton, Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso, Emily Breeze, Kelsey J.R.P. Byers, Chana P. Chetariya, Beth C. Dyson, Alec Forsyth, Beatriz Gonçalves, Camila Gonzalez, Daniel M. Jenkins, Joanna Kacprzyk, Kirsten Knox, George R. Littlejohn, Sara Lopez-Gomollon, Enrique López-Juez, Claudia Martinho

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Societal Impact Statement: Plants provide oxygen, food, shelter, medicines and environmental services, without which human society could not exist. Tackling pressing and global challenges requires well-trained plant scientists and plant-aware individuals. This manifesto provides a practical evidence-based vision to strengthen plant science education, focused on five strategic priorities. It is relevant to all stakeholders within plant science and beyond: from frontline educators to institutional leaders; from commercial or charitable professionals to entrepreneurs and donors; from individual community members to their legislative representatives. Strengthening plant science education demands concrete actions from all stakeholders, ultimately to the benefit of us all. Summary: …

Temperature Dependence Of The Imaging Properties Of Holographic Lenses, Tomás Lloret, Jorge Lasarte, Suzanne Martin, Izabela Naydenova, Inmaculada Pascual

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

The demand for advanced photonic technologies to enhance augmented reality (AR) devices has led to a significant interest in new optical materials suitable for operation in sometimes challenging environmental conditions, such as elevated temperatures levels. Holographic optical lenses (HOLs), fabricated using holographic recording, offer several advantages over traditional refractive lenses, including greater versatility, lower cost, lower weight, and increased adaptability. In this study, we investigated the optical and thermal performance of HOLs recorded on four different photosensitive materials: Bayfol HX200, Bayfol HX120, a PVA/acrylamide-based photopolymer (AA/PVA), and a photopolymerisable hybrid sol–gel (PHSG). The lenses were exposed to thermal cycles 20 …

The Evolving Therapeutic Landscape Of Pcsk9 Inhibition, Frederick J Raal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide with low density lipoprotein being a major, yet modifiable, risk factor. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) plays a central role in regulating low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor expression. Naturally occurring loss-of-function variants in the PCSK9 gene result in lifelong lower LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and significantly lower risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), providing strong genetic validation of PCSK9 as a therapeutic target. This insight has driven the development of therapies directed at PCSK9 for the management of hypercholesterolaemia, particularly in patients who fail to meet LDL-C targets despite maximally …

The Impact Of Genetic Testing On Physician Practice In Specialized Cardiovascular Clinics, Scott Spencer, Damon Hostin, Ginger A Metcalf, Richard A Gibbs, Vijay Nambi, Layla A Abushamat, Christie M Ballantyne

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Although familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tier 1 condition for genetic testing, the impact of testing on clinical outcomes is unclear.

Objective: We aimed to assess whether genetic testing alters lipid management in HeartCare participants.

Methods: For participants with pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants for FH observed at Baylor College of Medicine cardiology clinics, data on laboratory values, medication prescriptions, and diagnoses were collected and compared before and after genetic testing.

Results: In the 20 participants with APOB/LDLR variants and complete data, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was numerically lower but not significantly different before …

Toward Scientific Rigor: Setting Standards For Indirect Calorimetry Analysis And Reporting

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Indirect calorimetry determines energy expenditure by measuring respiratory gas exchange. The approach is based on the principle that nutrient metabolism consumes O2 and produces CO2 and water in predictable ratios that can be compared with heat production. Due to the impracticality and high cost of direct calorimetry, indirect calorimetry is the major approach for modern metabolic studies in preclinical models. Despite the broad adoption of this method in rodent phenotyping, the field has lacked standardized methods for analyzing, representing, and sharing these data, limiting scientific progress. The recent review in Nature Metabolism by the International Indirect Calorimetry Consensus Committee (IICCC) …

Comparing Observed With Self-Reported Hand Hygiene Adherence Among Bedside Nurses And Physicians At Two Hospitals In The United States, Karen E Fowler, Serene Jacob, Laura Dillon, Michelle Espiritu, Nathan Houchens, Huberta T Cozart, Barbara W Trautner

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Hand hygiene is a core component of infection prevention in healthcare settings. One potential reason for lack of adherence to recommended hand hygiene practices is erroneous self-perception. We aimed to compare perceptions about hand hygiene compliance with objective data.

Methods: Direct observations of hand hygiene performance by nurses and physicians during typical workflow in inpatient general medicine wards were conducted from 12 September 2022 to 27 October 2022 at two academic Veterans Affairs medical centers. Participants were surveyed regarding perceptions about their hand hygiene performance relative to recommended practices.

Results: Among nurses, hand hygiene was performed in 1,397/3,690 (37.9%) …

Sex Differences In Hospitalizations In The 6 Months Before A Diagnosis Of Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy, Gregg C Fonarow, Biykem Bozkurt, Marianna Fontana, Julian D Gillmore, William E Moody

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The influence of sex on the extent of missed opportunities for early diagnosis of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) has not been characterized.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to determine the rate and causes of hospitalization preceding the index admission with ATTR-CM, stratifying analyses according to sex.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of the National Readmissions Database to evaluate the 6-month hospitalizations preceding an index admission with a diagnosis of ATTR-CM.

Results: Between 2018 and 2020, there were 10,975 patients hospitalized with ATTR-CM of whom 4,545 (41.1%) had 1 or more hospital admission within the preceding …

A Primer On International Agreements Relevant To Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal, Korey Silverman-Roati, Romany M. Webb

Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

This primer provides an introduction to seven international agreements relevant to marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) research activities in the ocean. Each of these agreements has implications for whether, when, where, and how in-ocean mCDR projects will go forward. The primer is intended to provide policymakers, non-government organizations (NGOs), scientists, and others working on mCDR with an introduction to the agreements and explain their relevance to mCDR. It also offers guidance to those wishing to engage in discussions regarding mCDR under the agreements, which could help resolve open legal questions on their applicability to, and governance of, mCDR.

The Pay-To-Train Paradigm: How Private Settlements Are Rewriting Generative Ai Copyright Law, Kevin Afiesh

UC Law Journal

The legal landscape for generative artificial intelligence (AI) and copyright is now shaped more by private settlements that overwhelmingly favor copyright holders than by courts or legislators. As AI companies rely on copyrighted materials to train their models, content owners have filed lawsuits challenging these practices. However, instead of clarifying fair use limits in court, most disputes are resolved through private settlements. These agreements impose licensing fees, content restrictions, and compliance requirements, creating a shadow regulatory system that governs how AI companies access and use training data. Although courts and agencies have begun to weigh in, their interventions offer only …

Use Of A Cystatin C-Based Gfr Equation In A Population Pharmacokinetic Model Of Methotrexate Clearance In Adult Patients With Lymphoma., Zachary L. Taylor, Erin F. Barreto, Kristin C. Cole, Andrew D. Rule, Kianoush B. Kashani, Nelson Leung, Carrie A. Thompson, Thomas E. Witzig, Laura Ramsey, Jason N. Barreto

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: High-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) is a key treatment for lymphoma with central nervous system involvement. Whether incorporating cystatin C into glomerular filtration rate estimation improves methotrexate (MTX) clearance prediction remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate whether cystatin C-inclusive glomerular filtration rate equations improve MTX clearance prediction and to explore the relationship between MTX exposure and acute kidney injury (AKI) in adult patients with lymphoma receiving HDMTX.

METHODS: This was a prospective single-center study performed on 80 adult patients with lymphoma receiving HDMTX (1.5-8 g/m²) over a 4-h infusion. A population pharmacokinetic model was constructed using data from …

Epidemiology Of Aspergillosis Diagnoses In Us Adults Using A National Ehr Database, 2013-2023., Brittany L. Morgan Bustamante, Elijah G. Martinez, Aidan Lee, Natalie J. Kane, Simon K. Camponuri, Rose M. Reynolds, Theo T. Snow, Juliana G E Bartels, Mark A. Hoffman, Theodore C. White, Justin V. Remais

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Aspergillosis is a fungal infection associated with rising hospitalizations and substantial morbidity and mortality. In the United States, data remain fragmented due to the absence of centralized surveillance. This study aimed to evaluate demographic, geographic, and temporal trends in aspergillosis diagnoses across the United States and evaluate changes in those patterns following the emergence of COVID-19.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using electronic health record data from 142 US healthcare systems (Oracle Health), including adults aged ≥18 years who received care between 2013 and 2023. The cohort included over 76 million patients and 127 million person-years. Aspergillosis …

Molecular And Regional Characterization Of Colorectal Polyps: Insights From Proteomics, Phosphoproteomics, And Immune Profiling., Thomas M. Attard, Shawn D. St Peter, Alexander Kats, Doug R. Lagemann, Caitlin E. Lawson, Badal C. Roy, Kafayat Yusuf, Lisa Harvey, Payel Bhanja, Rishi Man Chugh, Subhrajit Saha, Michael P. Washburn, Shahid Umar

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an inherited predisposition to colorectal cancer and characterized by profuse colorectal adenomas starting from the second decade of life. Regional (left vs. right) differences in the colonic microbiologic and immunologic microenvironment may impact adenoma evolution but are poorly understood. We aimed to characterize regional molecular, microbial, DNA damage, and immune differences in pediatric FAP polyps to test the hypothesis that polyps in pediatric FAP exhibit distinct regional and molecular features that contribute to differential growth and genomic instability.

METHODS: Colonic polyps and adjacent non-polyp mucosa were harvested from pediatric FAP patients undergoing colonoscopy. Tandem …

Hyperacute Effects Of Non-Code Dose Bolus Epinephrine In Paediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Patients: Insights From High-Fidelity Physiologic Data., Wesam Sourour, Michael Evans, Kevin Le, Saul Flores, Juan S. Farias, Rohit Seth Loomba

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Non-code dose boluses of epinephrine are utilised in critically ill paediatric patients during periods of hemodynamic deterioration, often with the hopes of preventing a cardiac arrest. Data regarding the physiologic effects of these administrations are limited. The primary aim of this study was to use high-fidelity physiologic data to characterise the effects of intravenous non-code dose bolus epinephrine.

METHODS: Paediatric patients in the cardiac ICU who received non-code dose bolus epinephrine were identified. Those who received fluid boluses or chest compressions within 2 minutes of bolus epinephrine were excluded. Autoregressive integrated moving average analyses with exogenous variables were conducted …

Fare-Free Public Transportation: A Systematic Review Of Outcomes, Joseph S. Lightner, Nancy Ziegler, Tyler Prochnow, Sammi Ford, Jordan A. Carlson, Mallory Moon, Jannette Berkley-Patton, Steven Chesnut, Amanda Grimes

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Introduction

Methods

2026 Nh 4-H Grill Master Cook-Off Scoresheet, Mikayla Cerney

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

2026 Nh 4-H Grilled Cheese Contest Scoresheet, Mikayla Cerney

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Canning Fruits And Tomatoes [Fact Sheet], Mikayla Cerney

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Addressing System Strength And Reliability Concerns In Renewable Energy-Based Weak Grids Using Synchronous Condensers Determined By Hybrid Gru-Classical Optimization Method, Md Ohirul Qays, Iftekhar Ahmad, Daryoush Habibi, Mohammad A.S. Masoum, Thair Mahmoud

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Owing to the higher-integration of renewable energy generators (REGs), conventional coal-based synchronous generators are being decommissioned from generation fleets, resulting in system strength and reliability concerns. Along with the increasing load demand, deficiency of system strength can be a huge risk to system stability and can eventually lead to blackouts by disconnecting REGs from grid systems. In the literature, researchers and power engineers have proposed to deploy synchronous condensers (SynCons) as a mitigation strategy to address the system strength and reliability challenges. SynCons are, however, expensive and require investigation for higher reliability results before installation. To address the concerns, SynCons’ …

Shear Stability Enhancement In Fracture Plugging Zones: Unveiling Failure Mechanisms And Adhesive Benefits Through Photoelastic Analysis, Haoran Jing, Yili Kang, Chengyuan Xu, Lei Liu, Xiaopeng Yan, Zhenjiang You

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Addressing lost circulation during drilling operations typically involves the utilization of lost circulation materials (LCMs) to create a fracture plugging zone (FPZ), which effectively decouples the wellbore fluid column pressure (Pw) from the formation pressure (Pf). This FPZ, comprised of aggregated granular LCM particles, frequently succumbs to shear stress, with shear failure being the predominant mode of structural failure, leading to ongoing fluid losses. To illuminate the failure mechanisms of the FPZ under conditions of escalating drilling differential pressure (Pw - Pf), we utilized photoelastic experiments to capture and visualize the evolving mesoscopic mechanical structure of the FPZ. Photoelastic images …

Numerical Investigation On Enhancing The Performance Of A Parabolic Trough Collector Using A Threaded Absorber Tube, Shayan Pourhemmati, Abdellah M. Shafieian, Hussein A. Mohammed, Barun Kumar Das, Majid Tolouei-Rad

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The growing global demand for energy and heightened environmental concerns have elevated the importance of solar energy harvesting in recent years. Parabolic trough collectors (PTCs) are widely utilized for capturing direct solar radiation; however, conventional PTC efficiency is limited by low convection heat transfer rate in the absorber section, which is then delivered to heat transfer fluid (HTF). This study numerically investigates the use of a threaded tube as a fluid flow disruption technique to enhance heat transfer rate within the absorber, with Reynolds numbers ranging from 4000 to 10,000. Three key geometric parameters of the thread: pitch (300, 150 …

Participatory Action Research (Par) In Designing A Supplementary Animated Teaching Resource To Support Learning Cervical Assessment, Michelle Gray, Shelley Stuart, Melanie Welfare

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: To create an education resource that assists students to understand the movement of the cervix during labour from a posterior retroverted position to a central location, cervical effacement, dilatation of the cervix and descent of the fetal skull. Background: Learning about anatomy and physiology in relation to cervical effacement and dilatation are abstract concepts that are difficult to understand from reading alone. Diagrams are of little assistance however 3D animation has the potential to improve students learning experiences. Design: Participatory Action Research (PAR) using the 7 C's Feekery Framework approach was adopted. Participants became coresearchers in conceptualising the learning …

Physical Fitness And Executive Functions In Early Childhood: A Systematic Review Of Recent Evidence, Nemanja Lakicevic, Marko Manojlovic, Elena Chichinina, Apollinaria Chursina, Kristina Tarasova, Ewan Thomas, Yuming Zhong, Antonino Bianco, Patrik Drid

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background Optimizing physical fitness (PF) and developing executive functions (EFs) is of great importance in preschool children. The link between PF, obtained through repetitive physical activity, and EFs is gaining increasing attention in recent years and we sought to systematically search the literature on the relationship between PF and EFs in preschool children published in the last five years. Methods Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed were databases searched for the relevant literature. Original studies written in English and published in peer-reviewed journals including healthy children aged 3–6 years who were simultaneously tested for PF and EFs were considered eligible. …

Preserving Residual Kidney Function In Haemodialysis: Current Practices, Challenges, And Perspectives From Renal Clinicians, Lijun Zhong, Ulrich Steinwandel, Hugh Davies, Sara Bayes, Jagadish Jamboti, Hemant Kulkarni, Doris Chan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Residual kidney function in patients receiving haemodialysis is associated with improved survival, reduced cardiovascular risk and better quality of life. Yet, clinical guidelines on its preservation are limited, and local practices remain unclear. Objectives: To explore current practices, perceptions and challenges related to residual kidney function preservation among renal clinicians. Design: Descriptive cross-sectional survey. Participants: Renal physicians and nurses working in hospital-based haemodialysis units across Western Australia. Measurements: Role-specific questionnaires were administered to renal physicians and nurses. Results: Eighty-four completed responses were received (physicians n = 25; nurses n = 59). Over half of physicians (56%, n = 14) …