Applied Research Division Research At A Glance: 2025, Shellie R. Hubbard Ma

Institute of Child Nutrition, Applied Research Division

The Institute of Child Nutrition Applied Research Division (ICN ARD) conducts applied research to address operational issues affecting child nutrition programs and support continuous program improvement. During the 2024–2025 reporting year, the division completed research focused on workforce development, training needs, culinary competencies, school food trends, and operational challenges in child nutrition settings.

Major projects included studies examining training needs and delivery preferences of child nutrition professionals, challenges affecting Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) operations, and the development of a Competencies, Knowledge, and Skills (CKS) resource for chefs working in school nutrition programs. Findings informed the creation of …

Adaptation For Whom? Understanding The Impacts Of Dyke Policies On Small-Scale Farmers In Ca Mau Province Of Vietnam, Nguyen Minh Quang, Nguyen Van Minh, Nguyen Vo Chau Ngan, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Low-lying deltas worldwide are extremely vulnerable to sea-level rise. As the risks of climate-induced flooding become increasingly clear, the thirst for infrastructure-driven adaptation increases. This highlights a patent need to understand the impacts of engineering adaptation solutions, especially those targeting built structures such as dykes and sluices, on farmers from a bottom-up, farmer-centred perspective. The study addresses this call by examining cases where dyke policies, while successful in some dimensions, have undermined small-scale farmer livelihoods in Ca Mau ― Vietnam’s southernmost rural province. It identifies areas in need of attention and adds empirical data related to this group of farmers. …

Lead Bioaccessibility And Commonly Measured Soil Characteristics (Detroit, Mi, Usa) Phase Ii, Conor T. Gowan, Sabrina R. Good, Allison R. Harris, Patrick Crouch, Shawn P. Mcelmurry

Open Data at Wayne State

Urban soil contaminated with anthropogenic sources of Pb is a major contributor to child Pb exposure. To assess the Pb risk in urban areas, composite samples were collected from 142 voluntary privately owned 142 residential parcels in Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park, Michigan. Samples were collected at two time periods, before and after treatment applied for those denoted as treatment sites. Samples were collected from areas covered with turf grass on the parcels from the front, middle and rear sections. Soils were collected with a bulb planter at approximately 10cm depth and were cleaned with a tap water-Liquinox detergent solution …

Racial Health Disparities Among Pregnant Women Of Color In New York City: Biological And Systemic Impacts, Kaylin Peña

Pitzer Senior Theses

Racial Health Disparities Among Pregnant Women of Color in New York City: Biological and Systemic Impacts

Abstract

This thesis aims to explore how racial health disparities, underrepresentation in gynecology, and socioeconomic barriers contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes among women of color in New York City. Through an interdisciplinary approach that combines resources from medical anthropology and human biology, this research will examine the biological implications of chronic stress, specifically HPA axis dysregulation, and its role in maternal health outcomes. With the idea of intersectionality, as conceptualized by Kimberlé Crenshaw, the study analyzes the various effects of systemic inequities and social …

Understanding The Pathogenesis Of Uveitis In Ebola Virus Disease Survivors: An Observational Cohort And Cross-Sectional Study Protocol For Clinical, Molecular Virologic And Immunologic Characterisation, Caleb D. Hartley, Susanne Linderman, Tolulope Fashina, Laura Ward, Carolyn Drews-Botsch, Catherine Pratt, Sanjana Kuthyar, Alcides Filho Fernandes, Ye Huang, Charlene Choo, Nam Nguyen, Jessica Carag, Jill Morgan, Colleen S. Kraft, Angela L. Hewlett, David Brett-Major, John S. Schieffelin, Robert F. Garry, Donald Grant, Grant A. Justin, Christopher D. Conrady, Justine R. Smith, Brent R. Hayek, Shiama Balendra, Nisha Acharya, Thuy Doan, Anais Legand, Pierre Formenty, Xiankun Zeng, Ibrahim Conteh, Matthew Jusu Vandy, Lloyd Harrison-Williams, Jalikatu Mustapha, Zikan Koroma, Michael R. Wiley, Ian Crozier, Jean-Claude Mwanza, Jessica G. Shantha, Rafi Ahmed, Steven Yeh, Smile And Evict-Vr Investigator Study Groups

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

INTRODUCTION: The 2013-2016 Western African outbreak of the Ebola virus disease (EVD), the largest recorded outbreak since the discovery of Ebola virus (EBOV) in 1976, destabilised local health systems and left thousands of survivors at risk for postacute sequelae, including vision-threatening uveitis. In an EVD survivor with severe panuveitis, the detection of persistent EBOV in the aqueous humour, long after clearance of acute viremia, focused clinical and research attention on the host-EBOV interaction in the unique terrain of ocular immune privilege. Despite the recognition that uveitis is common and consequential in EVD survivors, our understanding of pathogenesis is extremely limited, …

Academic Proficiency In Ugandan Children With Sickle Cell Anemia: A Cross-Sectional Study, Robert Opoka, Shubaya Kasule Naggayi, Paul Bangirana, Simple Ouma, Betty Nyangoma, Annet Birabwa, Grace Nambatya, Maxencia Kabatabaazi, Ann Jacqueline Nakitende, Dennis Kalibbala

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Introduction: Academic proficiency is crucial for advancing learning goals, school advancement, and future economic security. Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) may be at risk of disease-associated learning difficulties. Limited data exist on this topic among school-age children in the region. We aimed to assess academic proficiency in a sample of children with SCA in Uganda compared with unaffected controls.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kampala, Uganda. Participants were school-going children with SCA, aged 6–12 years, attending Mulago Hospital SCA Clinic, and age-matched sibling controls without SCA. Academic proficiency was assessed by the Wide …

Association Between Lifetime Interpersonal Violence And Post– Covid-19 Condition Among Women In Kentucky, 2020-2022, Ayşe Güler, Heather M. Bush, Katie Schill, Nurlan Kussainov, Ann L. Coker

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic increased the risk of interpersonal violence. We investigated the association between lifetime interpersonal violence experience and risk of post–COVID-19 condition (the persistence of symptoms of COVID-19 and severity of health problems associated with COVID-19 that last a few weeks, months, or years) among women with lifetime interpersonal violence experience.   Methods: Women participants aged ≥18 years in Kentucky’s Wellness, Health & You—COVID-19 study completed online quantitative surveys about the impacts of the pandemic, developing COVID-19, and symptoms of post–COVID-19 condition. We conducted cross-sectional analyses estimating rate ratios of developing COVID-19 and symptoms of post–COVID-19 condition during the …

Development Of Audiovisual Media For Child Marriage Prevention To Improve Knowledge, Perception, And Motivation Among Junior High School Students In Malang Regency, Chabibah Ilmiyah, Windi Chusniah Rachmawati, Sapto -. Adi, Nurnaningsih Herya Ulfah

Preventia: The Indonesian Journal of Public Health

Child marriage is an issue that significantly impacts adolescent well-being and is often attributed to low levels of knowlede, poor perception, and low motivation among adolescents regarding its prevention. This study aimed to develop an audiovisual medium in the form of an animated video as a health promotion tool to prevent child marriage among junior high school students in Malang Recenty. The Research and Development (R&D) method, specfically the the ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation), was employed in this study. The results of expert validation indicated that the video medium was categorized as “highly Feasible:, with percentages …

The Process And Significance Of Convening A Community Advisory Board With Individuals With Severe Mental Illness, Jacelyn Biondo, Nia Johnson

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Individuals with lived experience of being diagnosed with severe mental illness and/or substance use disorders have deep and profound knowledge regarding the culture and needs of their community. Historically, these and other vulnerable populations have been excluded from care access, treatment insights, research development and participation, and often society in general. In this paper, we share our experience of convening a community advisory board with vulnerable populations and highlight the expertise these community members provide. We outline our processes of convening the community advisory board, engaging in collaborative meetings, revising the research protocol, and exploring future research needs. Using meeting …

An Evaluation Of The Decline In Primary Care Physician Visits, 2010 To 2021, Anuradha Jetty, Marie Ezran, Alison Huffstetler, Yalda Jabbarpour

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Primary care is the backbone of the United States healthcare system, yet it continues to be underfunded and inaccessible to many. Previous studies explored primary care visit patterns until 2016, leaving gaps in our understanding of how recent factors like state Medicaid expansions, the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and population growth have influenced these patterns. Hence, the objective of the current study was to analyze the trends in primary care visits provided by outpatient clinicians over time and by visit type and contextualize study findings within the changing healthcare landscape.

METHODS: The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data (2010-2021) …

The Role Of Music In Public Health, Joy Allen Phd, Mt-Bc

All MHI Citations

Music is emerging as a critical yet underutilized determinant of public health. Evidence demonstrates that music-based interventions reduce hospital stays, medication use, and staff burnout while improving patient outcomes, caregiver well-being, and population-level health indicators. Despite these proven benefits, the field remains fragmented and underfunded, limiting its capacity to scale. This paper reframes music as a pillar of public health and argues for systems-level investment in infrastructure, workforce development, and cross-sector innovation. Drawing on the work of the Berklee Music and Health Institute, we highlight how translational research, accessible evidence tools, and interdisciplinary training are advancing equity-driven, sustainable approaches to …

Medication Abortion And The Mails: The Ghost Of Anthony Comstock Rides Again?, Lars Noah

UF Law Faculty Publications

Mail-order dispensing of the prescription drug mifepristone has become the latest flashpoint in this country’s long-running debate over abortion access. It also has brought back from the dead one of the oldest federal statutes to address that contentious subject. In their fight to limit access to a drug approved by the FDA one quarter of a century ago, abortion opponents have rediscovered the Comstock Act. Although amended on several occasions since 1873, Congress never managed to repeal or clarify its ambiguous language relating to abortion. On its narrowest reading, this provision would have no impact whatsoever on access to mifepristone; …

Temporal Network Analysis Of Comorbidities Among People With Hiv In South Carolina, Yunqing Ma, Matthew Lohman Ph.D., Monique J. Brown Ph.D., Mph, Yichen Li, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Introduction: People with HIV experience a high rate of comorbidities that can complicate their health outcomes. Understanding the prevalence, interrelationships and temporal development of these comorbidities is crucial for improving health management and quality of life for people with HIV. Methods: We used a population-based cohort extracted from statewide electronic health record (EHR) data in South Carolina (SC), including 18 649 people with HIV who survived at least 1 year after HIV diagnosis between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2020. Comorbidities and organ systems were classified using ICD-10 codes. Network analysis was performed to assess the closeness centrality among …

Readiness To The Privatization Of The Health System In Saudi Arabia: Translation And Factor Analysis Of Readiness To Organizational Change (Roc) Scale, Ahmed Ali Alasiri, Qi Zhang

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) began a major transformation as a part of version 2030 for its health system. These reform initiatives aim to privatize health services and improve efficiency. Despite this meaningful change, there is a knowledge gap in how healthcare providers prepare for or perceive this shift. Specifically, there has been a lack of validation of Arabic instruments that gauge the individual readiness to this change. This study bridges the gap by localizing and validating the Readiness to Organizational Change scale (ROC) to provide empirical evidence and to understand adaptability for the KSA context.

Method

The …

A Comprehensive Review And Bibliometric Analysis On Collaborative Robotics For Industry: Safety Emerging As A Core Focus, Aida Haghighi, Morteza Cheraghi, Jérôme Pocachard, Valérie Botta-Genoulaz, Sabrina Jocelyn, Hamidreza Pourzarei

Revues de littérature, synthèses de connaissances

Research organizations and academics often seek to map the development of scientific fields, identify research gaps, and guide the direction of future research. In cobot-related research, the scientific literature consulted does not propose any comprehensive research agenda. Moreover, cobots, industrial robots inherently designed to collaborate with humans, bring with them emerging issues. To solve them, interdisciplinary research is often essential (e.g., combination of engineering, ergonomics and biomechanics expertise to handle safety challenges). This paper proposes an exhaustive study that employs a scoping review and bibliometric analysis to provide a structured macro perspective on the developments, key topics, and trends in …

The Association Between Obstetric Violence And Postpartum Depression Among Latina Women In The United States: An Integrative Review, Natalia Alameda

Scripps Senior Theses

Obstetric violence, a structural form of gender-based violence, involves abuse, mistreatment, or neglect by healthcare providers during obstetric care. It is often associated with childbirth trauma and may result in physical and psychological harm to mothers and children, including postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is a major depressive episode occurring during pregnancy or within four weeks following delivery. While these concepts are often studied independently, few studies examine their intersection, particularly among Latina women in the United States. To address this gap, an integrative literature review was conducted to explore the association between obstetric violence and postpartum depression among Latina women. …

Exposure To Phthalates And Replacements During Pregnancy In Association With Gestational Blood Pressure And Hypertensive Disorders Of Pregnancy, Erin E. Mcnell, Danielle R. Stevens, Barrett M. Welch, Emma M. Rosenthal, Suzanne Fenton, Antonia M. Calafat, Julianne Cook Botelho, Elena Sinkovskaya, Ann Przybylska, George Saade, Alfred Abuhamad, Kelly K. Ferguson

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as phthalates may increase risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). Prior studies lack investigation of chemical mixtures, phthalate replacements, or key periods of susceptibility including early pregnancy. In the present study, we used a longitudinal approach to evaluate gestational exposure to phthalates and replacements, as both single-pollutants and mixtures, in association with blood pressure and diagnosis of preeclampsia or any HDP. The Human Placenta and Phthalates prospective pregnancy cohort includes 291 participants recruited from two U.S. clinics. Urinary metabolites of ten phthalates and replacements were quantified at up to 8 time points per individual …

Association Between Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes And Awareness Of Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Numom2b-Hhs Secondary Analysis, Elizabeth M. Wendl, Amanda A. Allshouse, Ashley Goodwin, Bri Hobbs, Philip Greenland, Lisa Levine, William Grobman, George R. Saade, Natalie Cameron, C. Noel Bairey Merz, Caroline Rouse, Sarah Rogan, Judith H. Chung, Lauren H. Theilen, National Heart, Lung, And Blood Institute Numom2b Heart Health Study Network

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Background

Adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) affect 10%-20% of pregnancies and are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Objective

To determine whether the history of APO is associated with a person's awareness of their cardiovascular risk factors (CRF) 2-7 years postpartum.

Methods

This is a secondary analysis of a multicenter cohort study in which nulliparous pregnant people were enrolled in the first trimester and followed prospectively. Participants with a CRF (hypertension, dyslipidemia, and/or prediabetes/diabetes) at follow-up were included. We excluded participants with: pre-gestational diabetes, chronic hypertension, dyslipidemia during the index pregnancy or subsequent pregnancy, and non-fasting blood draws. The exposure …

Inpatient Utilization Among Medicaid Members With Substance Use And Serious Mental Illness In Oregon, Megan Holtorf

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Addressing Housing As A Health-Related Social Need: Insights From A Medicaid Housing Pilot In Oregon, Megan Holtorf, Benjamin Gronowski

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Perceptions Of The Health Care System As Mediators In The Association Between Experiences Of Discrimination, Communication From Providers, And Gaps In Mammography, Hannah Cohen-Cline

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Experiences And Impacts Of A Hospital-Based, Spanish-Language Teaching Kitchen And Garden On Staff And Participants, Sarah E Roth, Benjamin Gronowski, Heidi Davis

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Oregon Doula Workforce Analysis, Aisha K Gilmore, Apoorva Somayazulu, Lindsay Dickey, Rosemelty Jimenez Medal

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

High-Resolution Geospatial Database: National Criteria-Air-Pollutant Concentrations In The Contiguous U.S., 2016–2020, Tianjun Lu, Sun-Young Kim, Julian D. Marshall

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Concentration estimates for ambient air pollution are used widely in fields such as environmental epidemiology, health impact assessment, urban planning, environmental equity and sustainability. This study builds on previous efforts by developing an updated high-resolution geospatial database of population-weighted annual-average concentrations for six criteria air pollutants (PM_2.5, PM₁₀, CO, NO₂, SO₂, O₃) across the contiguous U.S. during a five-year period (2016–2020). We developed Land Use Regression (LUR) models within a partial-least-squares–universal kriging framework by incorporating several land use, geospatial and satellite–based predictor variables. The LUR models were validated using conventional …

Exploring The Impact Of Pain Management Agreements On Physician-Patient Relationship: A Qualitative Analysis From The Patient’S Perspective In Opioid Analgesic Treatment, Shriya Doranala

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Pain management agreements are increasingly used in the treatment of chronic pain with opioid analgesics. These agreements aim to reduce misuse of opioids by providing patients clear regulations and requirements to follow during treatment. This study seeks to assess the effect of pain management agreement for opioid treatment on the patient-physician relationship from the perspective of patients with a pain management agreement in the past two years. We recruited participants for the semi-structured interview through online media groups dedicated to patients with chronic pain that is treated with opioids. A cohort of eight individuals recruited from September 2023 to January …

How To Save A Life: The Impact Of Death Prevention Education Including Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation And Hemorrhage Control On Adolescents, Emily Charlton

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and uncontrolled traumatic bleeding are two of the leading causes of death globally. Death due to OHCA and bleeding is largely preventable. With appropriate bystander intervention, positive outcomes in cases of OHCA and traumatic bleeding would greatly increase. Purpose: Bystander ability and intent to provide emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and bleeding control is dependent on educational programs including death prevention first aid. Upon review of research, a gap was identified in adolescent death prevention training. The purpose of this proposed prospective study is to determine the effect of a high school education curriculum …

Educating Nurses On Culturally Competent Intimate Partner Violence Care, Nicole Lee

Nursing | Senior Theses

Purpose

The purpose of this research proposal is to examine the impact of mandatory training for labor and delivery nurses on culturally sensitive care for pregnant women who have experienced intimate partner violence. It aims to address gaps in provider training by evaluating improvement in screening rates, enhanced confidence, and effective interventions.

Methods

This study will recruit nurses from different labor and delivery units from different hospitals. This study will use a pre-test and post-test design to assess the effectiveness of the training. The evaluation will measure the changes in knowledge, confidence, and screening practices before and after training.

Results …

Optimizing Endogenous Glp-1 Holistically: A Nursing Led Approach To Sustainable Weight Loss Without Glp-1 Agonist Use, Taylee A. Carscadden

Nursing | Senior Theses

The increase in off-label Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist drugs, such as semaglutide (Ozempic), for weight loss has sparked concern in regards to the not fully understood drug outcomes and safety. GLP-1 agonists were originally developed to manage Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, but have been widely prescribed for obesity management despite minimal research on prolonged use in non-diabetic patients. This study explores how off-label use of GLP-1 agonist drugs exacerbate various adverse health outcomes, highlighting gastrointestinal complications, and the very possible dependency on drugs for weight management. It will also examine the efficacy of nursing-led education on the implementation of …

The Effects Of Medical Misinformation About Vaccines On Parents Of Pediatric Patients, Mya Izabela B. Emelia

Nursing | Senior Theses

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention designed for parents of pediatric patients who are vaccine hesitant and its impact on childhood vaccination rates. This research proposal aims to assess whether targeted education addressing vaccine misinformation, safety concerns, and benefits influences parental decision-making and improves vaccine uptake.

Methods

Parents of pediatric patients will be recruited from pediatric clinics and community health centers. Participants will complete a baseline survey before receiving an educational intervention addressing vaccine misinformation, social media-driven misconceptions, and hesitancy. A post-intervention survey will then assess changes in vaccine hesitancy, …

Nurses Current State Of Knowledge On Prion Disease, Chelsy Grande

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Prion disease is a rare neurodegenerative disorder that affects the central nervous system. Creutzfeldt-Jakob prion disease rapidly progresses, caused by an infectious pathogen that misfolds the normal prion protein which results in an accumulation of cellular prion proteins. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, only palliative care to provide support as the disease progresses. There is a gap in providing support for the patients and their families due to the limited understanding from the nurses, which can lead to the unmet needs of patients and their families. The purpose of the study is to evaluate what nurses …