26419 research outputs found
Sort by
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Risk in Acne Patients: Implications for Dermatologic Care
No full text[Practice points] Clinicians should consider monitoring for early signs of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adult patients with acne to facilitate prompt diagnosis and intervention. Clinicians should remain judicious when prescribing antibiotics for acne management to minimize potential disruptions to the gut microbiota and the risk for IBS. Isotretinoin may serve as a safer alternative to antibiotics in patients with acne, particularly those with gastrointestinal concerns
Potential of LiDAR and Hyperspectral Sensing for Overcoming Challenges in Current Maritime Ballast Tank Corrosion Inspection
No full textCorrosion in maritime ballast tanks is a major driver of maintenance costs and operational risks for maritime assets. Inspections are hampered by complex geometries, hazardous conditions, and the limitations of conventional methods, particularly visual assessment, which struggles with subjectivity, accessibility, and early detection, especially under coatings. This paper critically examines these challenges and explores the potential of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) to form the basis of improved inspection approaches. We discuss LiDAR’s utility for accurate 3D mapping and providing a spatial framework and HSI’s potential for objective material identification and surface characterization based on spectral signatures along a wavelength range of 400-1000nm (visible and near infrared). Preliminary findings from laboratory tests are presented, demonstrating the basic feasibility of HSI for differentiating surface conditions (corrosion, coatings, bare metal) and relative coating thickness, alongside LiDAR’s capability for detailed geometric capture. Although these results do not represent a deployable system, they highlight how LiDAR and HSI could address key limitations of current practices and suggest promising directions for future research into integrated sensor-based corrosion assessment strategies
Pasindu Thenahandi (Computer Science PhD Student)
No full text[Introduction] Hello! My name is Pasindu Sankalpa, and I am an international student from Sri Lanka. In Fall 2025, I joined the NIRDS Lab (Neuro-Information Retrieval and Data Science Lab) in WS-DL (Web Science and Digital Libraries Research Group) at Old Dominion University as a PhD student under the supervision of Dr. Sampath Jayarathna
VCD-Induced Model of Menopause to Study Effects of Sleep Fragmentation on Atherogenesis
No full textIntroduction: Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease characterized by plaque buildup within arteries, leading to cardiovascular diseases. Sleep fragmentation (SF), defined as less than seven hours of uninterrupted sleep, is a recognized risk factor and is commonly observed in menopausal women. Menopause causes a decline in estrogen and ovarian follicles, resulting in the loss of estrogen’s protective anti-atherogenic effects. SF exacerbates atherosclerosis by promoting oxidative stress and inflammation. Since SF contributes to atherosclerosis, and menopausal women are particularly affected by disturbed sleep, we aim to examine how menopause affects atherogenesis in the conditions of disturbed sleep.
Methods: We used the 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) model to mimic human menopause. Six- to eight-week-old Apoe-/- mice were injected intraperitoneally with VCD for 20 days to deplete ovarian follicles and produce a hormone profile comparable to natural menopause. Vaginal cytology, cell staining and microscopy were performed to assess menopausal transition. At day 52, mice were placed on a high-fat diet, and sleep fragmentation (SF) was induced. Aged mice also underwent cytology. Ovaries, aorta, and hearts were collected. Hearts were stained with Picrosirius Red and MOVAT to assess plaques, fibrous caps, and necrotic cores.
Results: SF increased plaque and necrotic core areas, and reduced collagen content in SF Apoe-/- mice compared to home cage controls. Aged mice displayed persistent diestrus, characterized by neutrophil and epithelial cell abundance. 20-day VCD-treatment caused irregular estrous cycles but not full menopause, whereas 25-day treatment induced persistent diestrus. Ovarian histology of 20-day VCD-injected Apoe-/- mice might show structural changes of follicles. Notably, at 40 days after VCD-injection for 25 days, Apoe-/- mice already exhibited constant diestrus. Atherosclerotic plaques were present in VCD-treated, SF mice.
Discussion: Our results indicate SF exacerbates atherogenesis by increasing plaque vulnerability, and the VCD model effectively mimics menopausal transition. Persistent diestrus after 25 days of VCD treatment reliably indicates menopause. These findings support using VCD and aged mice to study postmenopausal atherosclerosis and SF-related cardiovascular risk
Mortality and Heart Failure Exacerbations with Incretin-mimetic Drugs for Weight Loss in Patients with Obesity-related Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction
No full textResearch has shown that incretin-mimetic agents approved and used for weight loss may help treat heart failure by improving their quality of life and functional capacity. Whether differences exist between these agents in the HFpEF population has not been tested before. Our study set out to see if these agents affected risk of all-cause mortality and further heart failure related hospitalizations in patients with obesity-related HFpEF and whether differences exist among them
Thermal Tolerance Limits of Mesophotic Corals in American Samoa
No full textWe analyzed the thermal tolerances of multiple coral species from an upper mesophotic (38–40m) and a shallow reef (5–10m) with our portable Coral Bleaching Automated Stress System (CBASS). Depth generalist Montipora grisea (deep and shallow) and depth specialists Pachyseris speciosa and Leptoseris sp. (deep only) were assayed from Leone, located on the western coast of Tutuila in American Samoa. Fragments from 10 genotypes of each species were exposed to a 17-hour thermal stress assay reaching four maximum temperatures ranging from 30–38°C under in situ light conditions (150 μmol photons m−² s−¹ under a Lee Filters “deep blue” light filter for mesophotic collections and 600 μmol photons m−² s−¹ for shallow collections). The temperature required to elicit a 50% reduction in dark adapted photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) was determined for each collection at the end of the thermal challenge (termed the Effective Dose 50 [ED50]). ED50s ranged from 36.4°C for the shallow Montipora grisea to 37.4°C for the deep Pachyseris speciosa, with a value of 36.5°C for the Leptoseris sp. There were no differences between the ED50’s measured for the deep (38–40m) vs. shallow (5–10m) M. grisea (36.5 vs. 36.4°C respectively), while the the ED50 for the deep P. speciosa was the highest. In situ temperature profiles for an adjacent 40m site showed high daily variability, which when coupled with the high ED50s suggests these populations host high levels of thermal tolerance
Meeting the Needs of English Learners With and Without Disabilities: A Team Approach to Intervention
No full textEducating English learners (ELs) in inclusive classrooms requires a team of educators with diverse expertise and knowledge in culturally and linguistically responsive assessment and instruction. To address the unique needs of ELs, we offered three graduate-level courses to the educators over a 9-month period. Teams of three to five educators from various schools were encouraged to apply. This group included administrators, general, and special education teachers, among others. The purpose of this study was threefold: (1) to expand research on professional development for in-service elementary educators working with ELs in elementary schools; (2) to investigate whether the 9-month team approach to professional development increases educators\u27 knowledge and skills in effective methods for assessing and educating ELs with and without disabilities; and (3) to explore whether a team approach is an efficient way to enhance educators\u27 collaboration while increasing their engagement in the community. In this article, we report on the collaboration among participants (post-survey means range from 2.32 to 3.47), student engagement (p\u3c 0.05) and family involvement (p\u3c 0.05). The results indicate that a team approach in professional development effectively increases collaboration among educators, encourages family participation and improves ELs\u27 academic engagement
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Lung Regeneration, Repair, and Fibrosis, Volume II
No full text[Introduction] Organ fibrosis represents a substantial a major contributor to global disease burden, implicated in over 30% of cases leading to disability-associated and fatal conditions. Among these conditions, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) stands as a progressive and frequently fatal interstitial lung disease characterized by aberrant extracellular matrix deposition and parenchymal scarring. The prognosis for IPF patients is poor, with a median survival time of just 3–5 years (Bhattacharya and Ramachandran, 2023; Lederer and Martinez, 2018, Ma et al., 2024, Wei et al., 2024). Current FDA-approved therapeutics, Pirfenidone and Nintedanib, demonstrate capacity to attenuate functional decline in pulmonary fibrosis but remain disease-modifying rather than curative. Consequently, elucidating the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms while developing more effective treatments constitutes an imperative research priority (Bonella et al., 2023, Podolanczuk et al., 2023, Zhang et al., 2023, Zhou et al., 2024)
Phytochemical and Nutritional Composition of Vernonia Amygdalina: Antioxidant, Antidiabetic Efficacy, and Hematological Benefits
No full textVernonia amygdalina, a traditionally used medicinal plant, has been purported to possess health-promoting properties. The aim of this study is to investigate the phytochemical and nutritional composition of V. amygdalina, evaluate its antioxidant and antidiabetic efficacy, and assess its hematological benefits. Phytochemical screening, proximate analysis, antioxidant assays (DPPH, ABTS), antidiabetic evaluations in treptozotocin induced diabetic rats, and hematological assessments were conducted according to standard protocol. V. amygdalina exhibited a rich phytochemical profile, comprising flavonoids, phenolic acids, and terpenoids, alongside significant antioxidant activity (IC50 = 12.5 μg/mL) and complete source of protein. Proximate analysis revealed high protein (21.1%) and fiber (15.6%) content. Antidiabetic evaluations demonstrated significant reductions in blood glucose levels (p \u3c 0.01). Hematological assessments showed significant improvements in hemoglobin (14.1 ± 0.6 g/dL), packed cell volume (42.9 ± 1.8%), red blood cell count (7.1 ± 0.3 x 10^12/L), and differential WBC count, including reduced monocyte (6.3 ± 0.9%) and eosinophil (2.6 ± 0.6%) percentages, and increased lymphocyte (34.4 ± 2.4%) percentage. This study provides comprehensive evidence for the phytochemical, nutritional, and pharmacological value of V. amygdalina, underscoring its potential as a functional food and phytomedicine for oxidative stress and diabetes management, as well as a natural adjunct for improving hematological parameters