Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Pulse: College Of Health Sciences E-Newsletter, Irvin B. Harrell (Editor)

College of Health Sciences Newsletters

Special Holiday Edition December 2019 issue of Old Dominion University's College of Health Sciences Newsletter.

Permeation Of Ethoxy- And Butoxy- Ethanols Through A Disposable Nitrile Glove, Sean Banaee, Shane S. Que Hee

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to investigate the permeation of the glycol ethers, 2-ethoxyethanol (2-EE) and 2-butoxyethanol (2-BE) through disposable, nitrile exam gloves using a modified ASTM closed-loop module. The purple unsupported, unlined, powderless nitrile glove from Kimberly-Clark was challenged by the two pure glycol ethers. Their permeation parameters were measured with the aid of a 2.54 cm ASTM F739 closed-loop permeation cell using water collection at 35.0±0.5 ⁰C in a moving tray water bath, and capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for quantification. Each set of experiments consisted of four standard permeation cells with water as the collection solvent. …

How Oxygen Availability Affects The Antimicrobial Efficacy Of Host Defense Peptides: Lessons Learned From Studying The Copper-Binding Peptides Piscidins 1 And 3, Adenrele Oludiran, David S. Courson, Malia D. Stuart, Anwar R. Radwan, John C. Putsma, Myriam L. Cotten, Erin B. Purcell

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The development of new therapeutic options against Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection is a critical public health concern, as the causative bacterium is highly resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics. Antimicrobial host-defense peptides (HDPs) are highly effective at simultaneously modulating the immune system function and directly killing bacteria through membrane disruption and oxidative damage. The copper-binding HDPs piscidin 1 and piscidin 3 have previously shown potent antimicrobial activity against a number of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial species but have never been investigated in an anaerobic environment. Synergy between piscidins and metal ions increases bacterial killing aerobically. Here, we …

Aberrant Epigenomic Modulation Of Glucocorticoid Receptor Gene (Nr3c1) In Early Life Stress And Major Depressive Disorder Correlation: Systematic Review And Quantitative Evidence Synthesis, Laurens Holmes Jr., Emily Shutman, Chinacherem Chinaka, Kerti Deepika, Lavisha Palaez, Kirk W. Dabney

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Early life stress (ELS) induced by psychological trauma, child maltreatment, maternal separation, and domestic violence predisposes to psycho-behavioral pathologies during adulthood, namely major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety, and bipolar affective disorder. While environmental data are available in illustrating this association, data remain to be established on the epigenomic underpinning of the nexus between ELS and MDD predisposition. Specifically, despite the observed aberrant epigenomic modulation of the NR3C1, a glucocorticoid receptor gene, in early social adversity and social threats in animal and human models, reliable scientific data for intervention mapping in reducing social adversity and improving human health is required. We …

Implication Of Spiritual Network Support System In Epigenomic Modulation And Health Trajectory, Laurens Holmes Jr., Chinacherem Chinaka, Hikma Elmi, Kerti Deepika, Lavisha Palaez, Michael Enwere, Olumuyiwa T. Akinola, Kirk W. Dabnet

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

With challenges in understanding the multifactorial etiologies of disease and individual treatment effect heterogeneities over the past four decades, much has been acquired on how physical, chemical and social environments a ffect human health, predisposing certain subpopulations to adverse health outcomes, especially the socio-environmentally disadvantaged (SED). Current translational data on gene and adverse environment interaction have revealed how adverse gene-environment interaction, termed aberrant epigenomic modulation, translates into impaired gene expression via messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) dysregulation, reflecting abnormal protein synthesis and hence dysfunctional cellular differentiation and maturation. The environmental influence on gene expression observed in most literature includes physical, chemical, …

Scoring Morphology In Measures Of Spelling And Written Morphological Awareness: A Scoping Review, Victor A. Lugo, Kimberly A. Murphy, Emily Diehm

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Estimating Cognitive Workload In An Interactive Virtual Reality Environment Using Eeg, Christoph Tremmel, Christain Herff, Tetsuya Sato, Krzysztof Rechowicz, Yusuke Yamani, Dean J. Krusienski

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

With the recent surge of affordable, high-performance virtual reality (VR) headsets, there is unlimited potential for applications ranging from education, to training, to entertainment, to fitness and beyond. As these interfaces continue to evolve, passive user-state monitoring can play a key role in expanding the immersive VR experience, and tracking activity for user well-being. By recording physiological signals such as the electroencephalogram (EEG) during use of a VR device, the user's interactions in the virtual environment could be adapted in real-time based on the user's cognitive state. Current VR headsets provide a logical, convenient, and unobtrusive framework for mounting EEG …

Fetal Myocardial Performance Index In The Third Trimester Of Pregnancy: Feasibility And Reproducibility Of Conventional Spectral Doppler Versus Spectral Tissue Doppler Technique, Lea M. Porche, Elena Sinkovskaya, Rachel D. Seaman, Hadiza I. Galadima, Letty Romary, Jennifer Philips, Alfred Abuhamad,

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Objective: This study aims to compare completion rates and reproducibility of myocardial performance index (MPI) using conventional spectral Doppler versus tissue Doppler in an unselected high-risk third trimester population.

Study Design: This was a prospective cross-sectional study of high-risk pregnancies at ≥28 + 0 weeks’ gestation. Conventional spectral and tissue Doppler MPI of the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) was attempted on all patients.

Results: Seventy-nine pregnancies were evaluated. LV tissue Doppler MPI was completed more frequently than LV conventional spectral Doppler MPI (63/79, 79.7% vs. 45/79, 55.7%), p-value

Conclusion: Tissue Doppler had statistically higher completion rates than …

Molecular Investigation And Phylogeny Of Species Of The Anaplasmataceae Infecting Animals And Ticks In Senegal, Mustapha Dahmani, Bernard Davoust, Masse Sambou, Hubert Bassene, Pierre Scandola, Tinhinene Ameur, Didier Raoult, Florence Feenollar, Oleg Mediannikov

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Our study aimed to assess the diversity of the species of Anaplasmataceae in Senegal that infect animals and ticks in three areas: near Keur Momar Sarr (northern region), Dielmo and Diop (Sine Saloum, central region of Senegal), and in Casamance (southern region of Senegal).

Methods: A total of 204 ticks and 433 blood samples were collected from ruminants, horses, donkeys and dogs. Ticks were identified morphologically and by molecular characterization targeting the 12S rRNA gene. Molecular characterization of species of Anaplasmataceae infecting Senegalese ticks and animals was conducted using the 23S rRNA, 16S rRNA, rpoB and groEL genes.

Results: …

Dormant Pathogenic Cd4(+) T Cells Are Prevalent In The Peripheral Repertoire Of Healthy Mice, Anna Cebula, Michal Kuczma, Edyta Szurek, Maciej Pietrzak, Natasha Savage, Wessam R. Elhefnawy, Grzegorz Rempala, Piotr Kraj, Leszek Ignatowicz

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Thymic central tolerance eliminates most immature T cells with autoreactive T cell receptors (TCR) that recognize self MHC/peptide complexes. Regardless, an unknown number of autoreactive CD4+Foxp3⁻ T cells escape negative selection and in the periphery require continuous suppression by CD4+Foxp3⁺ regulatory cells (Tregs). Here, we compare immune repertoires of Treg-deficient and Treg-sufficient mice to find Tregs continuously constraining one-third of mature CD4⁺Foxp3⁻ cells from converting to pathogenic effectors in healthy mice. These dormant pathogenic clones frequently express TCRs activatable by ubiquitous autoantigens presented by class II MHCs on conventional dendritic cells, including selfpeptides that select …

Understanding Young Adult Survivors Of Childhood Cancers’ Participation In Late Effects Screening: A Mixed Methods Approach, Kristen Trost Mantlo

Health Services Research Dissertations

Significant advancements in the treatment of childhood cancers have helped to increase the 5-year survival rate from 56% in the early 1970s to approximately 80-85% in the early 2000s (Greenlee, Murray, Bolden, & Wingo, 2000; Hampton, 2005). Treatment modalities such as chemotherapy and radiation have led to many serious long-term side effects, known as late effects. Between 60% and 90% of survivors develop some form of long-term chronic condition due to their treatment and up to 40% of those conditions will be life-threatening (Howlader, N. et al., 2013). While the majority of young adult survivors of childhood cancer are at …

College Of Health Sciences E-Newsletter, October 2019, Irvin B. Harrell (Editor)

College of Health Sciences Newsletters

October 2019 issue of Old Dominion University's College of Health Sciences Newsletter.

Examine Predictors Of Bmi Classification And Perception Of Overweght Status Of Caregivers Of Preschool Children, Beth H. Chopp

Health Services Research Dissertations

Since the 1970’s the rate of childhood obesity in the United States has tripled and now one in five school-aged children is obese (Ogden et al., 2016). The childhood obesity epidemic will have medical, social, economic implications for future generations. Risk factors for childhood obesity include genetics, food intake, and physical activity, maternal health during pregnancy, parental weight, maternal employment and sociodemographic influences. This study examined the relationship between caregiver misperception of their preschoolers’ overweight/obese weight status and possible predictors that may assist in future interventions. The study evaluated NHANES data of 1245 caregivers with a child under age five …

Current Barriers To Dental Care Of Virginia Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd), Sfair Alkhthami

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the barriers to accessing professional dental care for Virginia children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as a mechanism for evaluating dental hygiene curricula. Methods: Data was collected via Qualtrics® from caregivers of one or more children with ASD who were part of Families of Autistic Children in Tidewater (FACT). The survey was distributed through FACT to all 200 members (N=200) via an email link, and a response rate of 28.5% (N=57) was obtained. Linear regression and logistic regression models were used to analyze data at the p=.05 level of significance. Results: …

Workplace Bullying: A National Survey Of Dental Hygienists, Savannah Dawn Sundburg

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Problem: Workplace bullying in health care affects career satisfaction, career longevity and patient outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine if bullying was occurring in dental hygiene employment settings as well as its prevalence in a convenience sample of dental hygienists.

Methods: After IRB approval, 1200 subscribers to a professional dental hygiene journal were invited to participate. Employing the validated Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R), participants were asked to indicate how often they experienced 22 defined negative behaviors according to rate of occurrence (never, now and then or monthly, weekly or daily) over the past six months. Bullying was …

Medical Specialty Camps: A Holistic Approach To Assist In The Management Of Diabetes, Takeyra Monique Collins

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

From toddlers to adolescents, poor medical regimen and adherence occurs as youth face adversities caused by type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). This inquiry-based research sought to explore the process of promoting resilience to attain personal diabetes management through outcome-focused programming. This dissertation was structured in a three-paper format to highlight three sectors of a medical specialty camp to identify the significance of building resilience among youth with T1DM, incorporating family support, and providing service-learning opportunities for students. The purpose of this study was to examine the impacts associated with campers’ resilience from pre- to post-camp based on their participation in …

College Of Health Sciences E-Newsletter, September 2019, Irvin B. Harrell (Editor)

College of Health Sciences Newsletters

September 2019 issue of Old Dominion University's College of Health Sciences Newsletter.

A Low-Cost Soft Robotic Hand Exoskeleton For Use In Therapy Of Limited Hand–Motor Function, Grant Rudd, Liam Daly, Vukica Jovanovic, Filip Cukov

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

We present the design and validation of a low-cost, customizable and 3D-printed anthropomorphic soft robotic hand exoskeleton for rehabilitation of hand injuries using remotely administered physical therapy regimens. The design builds upon previous work done on cable actuated exoskeleton designs by implementing the same kinematic functionality, but with the focus shifted to ease of assembly and cost effectiveness as to allow patients and physicians to manufacture and assemble the hardware necessary to implement treatment. The exoskeleton was constructed solely from 3D-printed and widely available of-the-shelf components. Control of the actuators was realized using an Arduino microcontroller, with a custom-designed shield …

An Overview Of Dyslexia: Definition, Characteristics, Assessment, Identification, And Intervention, Jane Roitsch, Silvana M. Watson

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

Background: Dyslexia is a developmental brain-based type of learning disability that affects a person's ability to read and spell words. Best estimates place 5 percent to 10 percent of the population with the condition, but the incidence of dyslexia is challenging to pinpoint, as the definition of dyslexia varies throughout research. Objective: The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of dyslexia, its characteristics, assessment and identification, and intervention techniques for the condition. Results: Although the disorder varies from person to person, common characteristics among people with dyslexia include difficulty with phonological skills, low accuracy and fluency of …

Early Information Access To Alleviate Emergency Department Congestion, Anjee Gorkhali

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

Alleviating Emergency Department (ED) congestion results in shorter hospital stay which not only reduces the cost of medical procedure but also increase the hospital performance. Length of patient stay is used to determine the hospital performance. Organization Information Processing (OIPT) Theory is used to explain the impact of information access and availability on the information processing need and ability of a hospital. Technical devices such as RFID that works as “Auto Identification tags” is suggested to increase the information availability as well as the information processing capability of the hospitals. This study suggests that the OIPT needs to be further …

Depression Among Expectant And New Mothers: A Multi-Study Investigation Of Rates, Correlates, And Training For Healthcare Providers, Molly M. Long

Health Services Research Dissertations

Perinatal depression (PD) is a common concern among women. PD has been shown to have negative effects on the mother, child, and mother-child relationship. Screening for PD is inconsistent and low among healthcare providers. However, several governing organizations (e.g., The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, The American Academy of Pediatrics) have provided guidelines for screening and treating PD, indicating the importance and utility of screening and treating PD by a variety of healthcare providers. Few studies, with low methodological rigor, have attempted to improve PD screening, treatment, and referral practices. Therefore, it is important to implement and assess additional …

Intersectional Identities And Microaggressions: The Experience Of Transgender Females, Cory Daniel Gerwe

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Historically, attention given to privileged LGBT minorities such as white LGBT individuals, renders those who experience multiple minority identities as unacknowledged. There is a scarcity of research exploring the intersectional experiences of transgender individuals and how these experiences impact their mental health and well-being. For that reason, the intent of this study was to learn more about transgender females who hold additional minority statuses, their transition experiences, their circumstances, and the nature of their social environment. Specifically, I investigated trans female experiences of transitioning with a specific focus on the intersection of gender identity, race, socioeconomic status (SES), and age. …

The Bidirectionality Of Impulsivity And Alcohol Use: An Ecological Momentary Examination Among Emerging Adults, Amy L. Stamates

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Impulsivity is a robust risk factor for alcohol use among emerging adults (i.e., 18 to 25), but significant gaps remain in our understanding of the way that impulsivity relates to alcohol harms. Most prior research has been limited to between-level differences; thus, within-person variability in impulsivity at the momentary level and its bidirectional association with alcohol use has not been examined. Consequently, the present research used a 14-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA) design to: (1) determine momentary impulsivity as a predictor of subsequent alcohol use and problems; (2) examine the influence of alcohol use on subsequent impulsivity; (3) test socio-cognitive …

The Expression Of Connexin-43 By Cd11c+ Dendritic Cells Is Required To Maintain Cd4+ Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cell Population In Peripheral Lymphoid Organs, Caroline Titus Miller

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells (T_R) are an immunosuppressive subset of CD4⁺ T cells that maintain homeostasis of the immune system. They are sustained by the interaction between the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules present on antigen presenting dendritic cells and the T Cell Receptor (TCR) expressed on T_R cells that is specific for the MHC loaded with an antigenic peptide. Here, we show that in addition to MHC/TCR interaction, Connexin-43 (Cx43) expression by dendritic cells is required to maintain the TR cell population. CD11c⁺ dendritic cells represent a major subset of antigen presenting cells. …

College Of Health Sciences E-Newsletter, Summer 2019, Irvin B. Harrell (Editor)

College of Health Sciences Newsletters

Summer 2019 issue of Old Dominion University's College of Health Sciences Newsletter.

Increasing Mental Health Literacy In The African American Community: Collaborations Between Mental Health Professionals And The Black Church, Brianna Simmons

Virginias Collegiate Honors Council Conference

African Americans tend to underutilize mental health services due to historical and present institutionalized racism, misdiagnoses, and misunderstandings, and to the lack of representation in the mental health field (Dempsey, Butler, and Gaither, 2016). African Americans thus turn to the Black Church for help. Clergy members of the Black Church use biblical counseling, which consists of seeking God’s wisdom (Dempsey et al., 2016). This differs from traditional psychological counseling where formalized diagnostic criteria are followed, and medication is often prescribed. Despite these differences between the Black Church and professional mental health agencies, there are a number of commonalities, such as …

Asthma-Related Health Outcomes In New Jersey After A Natural Disaster Event, My Ngoc Thuy Nguyen

Health Services Research Dissertations

The occurrence of a natural disaster event such as a hurricane may further hinder the asthma management of asthmatic individuals. Unmanaged asthma has led to increased work absenteeism, preventable emergency department visits, costly hospitalizations and possibly death in severe cases. To improve asthma management in asthmatic adults in New Jersey (NJ) following a natural disaster event, this study examined whether predisposing, enabling and need factors are predictors for asthma exacerbation and asthma-related health care utilization in New Jersey. A retrospective secondary analysis of New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (NJBRFSS) data and New Jersey Asthma Call Back Survey (NJACBS) …

College Of Health Sciences E-Newsletter, April 2019, Irvin B. Harrell (Editor)

College of Health Sciences Newsletters

April 2019 issue of Old Dominion University's College of Health Sciences Newsletter.

The Effects Of Supervisory Style And Supervisory Working Alliance On Supervisee Disclosure In Supervision: A Moderated Mediation Analysis, Chi Li

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Supervisee disclosure in supervision is considered as a critical factor influencing the effectiveness of supervision (Spence et al., 2014). Despite previous researchers’ efforts to understand the concept (e.g., Knox, 2015; Yourman & Farber, 1996), a consensus over the definition for what is considered as supervisee disclosure is missing, posing threats to the construct validity of existing supervisee disclosure measures (e.g., Gunn & Pistole, 2012; Mehr, Ladany, & Caskie; 2015). Therefore, based on a summative definition (e.g., Ladany et al., 1996; Hess et al., 2008; Walsh, Gillespie, Greer & Eanes, 2003), Li and Kemer (under review) developed and provided initial validation …

Emergency Departments And Care For Marginalized Populations, Irvin B. Harrell

Institute for the Humanities Theses

Healthcare providers in emergency departments (EDs) face a daunting daily task: providing health care in a triage setting to a diverse group of patients many with complex medical issues. Many patients rely on ED services out of financial necessity, when their healthcare issues could be better suited for care from a primary care physician. Many of these already vulnerable patients – minorities, those health illiterate, low-income, uninsured and those with language barriers – must also deal with ED overcrowding and staffing conditions. In some cases, patients leave without being seen while others face bed shortages. This study explores healthcare provider …