As life expectancy continues to rise, adults over 65 are one of the fastest-growing age groups in the United States. As we have made significant strides in mitigating disease, we now have to consider health states that lead to disablement and the inability to age-in-place, including falls, frailty, functional mobility,...
Ixodes scapularis (e.g. blacklegged tick) is a hard-bodied tick considered endemic to certain regions within the United States. This species is considered a primary vector of Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi), anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum) and babesiosis (Babesia microti). Each of these tick-borne diseases represent a growing health concern within the nation...
Marginalized groups in the United States are often diagnosed with hypertension at younger ages, contributing to their excess burden of cardiovascular disease. These disparities in blood pressure control do not appear to be fully accounted for by individual risk factors, such as health behaviors or genetic differences. Experiences of discrimination...
Background: Body Mass Index (BMI) is used as a quick and inexpensive tool to measure populations at risk for a number of metabolic and chronic conditions. In part due to its simplicity, BMI has been criticized for its inaccurate prediction concerning health outcomes. Due to the diversity in the United...
Intimate partner violence (IPV) against American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) women is a significant public health issue, requiring deeper understanding on how to better support Native women survivors. This mixed-methods project utilizes both quantitative and qualitative methods to examine factors associated with support-seeking behaviors and explore how women seek support and...
Kombucha is a fermented sweet tea beverage of Asian origin which has become popular in the West due to its distinct flavor and possible health benefits. Kombucha is fermented by inoculating sweet tea with yeast and bacteria until a pellicle, referred to as a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and...
In the United States, rates of youth vaping are alarmingly high. In 2018, the U.S Surgeon General declared youth vaping as an epidemic (Truth Initiative, 2019a). However, LGBTQ+ youth are disproportionately affected. In 2017, current e-cigarette usage in youth was 13.2% among heterosexuals, but was 17.5% in LGBTQ+ youth (CDC,...
The sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima is a model organism for the study of temperate symbiosis. Anthopleura elegantissima can engage in symbiosis with two different algal symbionts: the dinoflagellate Breviolum muscatinei and the chlorophyte Elliptochloris marina. One host enzyme that has been shown to be important in cnidarian-algal symbioses is carbonic...
Weight-based stigmatization (WBS) exists in healthcare and can be categorized as direct, indirect, or structural. WBS is harmful to individual’s health and contributes to worse healthcare engagement, including reduced care satisfaction, patient-centered communication (PCC), and utilization of services. Little is known about young adults’ experiences of WBS in healthcare. Young...
Studies indicate that many cancers occur more frequently in adult males than females. This male predominance must either be due to disparate environmental exposures or innate, biologic mechanisms, or a combination of the two. Using data and statistical software from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, male:female incidence...