Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Ums_Community Guidance_Everyone - Together For Maine_Face Covering Requirements, University Of Maine System

Community Guidance

Screenshot of University of Maine System Together for Maine Community Guidance concerning "Face covering requirements" on campus.

Subsequent updated versions of the guidance are included as supplementary content.

Ums_Community Guidance_Students - Together For Maine - Exemptions For Quarrantine, Testing And Face Coverings For Fully Vaccinated Students, University Of Maine System

Community Guidance

Screenshot of webpage part of the "Together for Maine" University of Maine System guidance regarding quarantine and testing exemptions for fully vaccinated students.

Chancellor Messages_Your Choice Is Clear, Dannel P. Malloy

Chancellor

Message to the University of Maine System community from Chancellor Dannel P. Malloy regarding the 2021 fall return to a university campus and the importance of COVID-19 vaccinations.

Longitudinal Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (Prep) Acceptability, Initiation And Adherence Among Criminal Justice-Involved Adults In The Usa: The Southern Prep Cohort Study (Specs) Protocol, Katherine Lemasters, Carrie B. Oser, Mariah Cowell, Katie Mollan, Kathryn Nowotny, Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein

Sociology Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: HIV prevalence among criminal justice (CJ)-involved adults is five times higher than the general population. Following incarceration, CJ-involved individuals experience multilevel barriers to HIV prevention. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a widely available, daily medication efficacious in preventing HIV. Little is known about PrEP knowledge, acceptability, initiation and sustained use among CJ-involved persons or about how these outcomes vary by multilevel factors. The Southern Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Study (SPECS) will investigate barriers and facilitators for PrEP initiation and sustained use among CJ-involved adults, building a foundation for PrEP interventions for this underserved population.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: SPECS uses a mixed-methods sequential …

2021-07-16_Michiganoverview_Covidstats, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Cumulative Michigan COVID-19 Data

The COVID Overview page was obtained from Michigan's main COVID-19 page: https:/www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98163-520743--,00.html.

The State of Michigan is working around the clock to test and treat COVID-19 patients. Below is the most recent data healthcare experts across the state have compiled. It is updated Tuesday and Friday.
This report is provisional and subject to change. City of Detroit and Wayne County are reported separately. MDHHS began tracking probable cases April 5, 2020. FCI indicates federal correctional institute. MDOC indicates Michigan Department of Corrections. Diagnostic tests, including nucleic acid amplification/real-time polymerase chain reaction (NAAT/RT-PCR) and rapid virus antigen detection point of …

2021-07-16_Michiganoverview_Covidbedppe, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Hospital Data

Contains the tables Statewide Hospital Capacity Report for COVID-19, COVID-19 Metrics, Statewide Hospital Available PPE Tracking for COVID-19, as well as the tables PPE Days On Hand and Patient Census.

High-Density Blood Transcriptomics Reveals Precision Immune Signatures Of Sars-Cov-2 Infection In Hospitalized Individuals, Jeremy W. Prokop, Nicholas L. Hartog, Dave Chesla, William Faber

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

The immune response to COVID-19 infection is variable. How COVID-19 influences clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients needs to be understood through readily obtainable biological materials, such as blood. We hypothesized that a high-density analysis of host (and pathogen) blood RNA in hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 would provide mechanistic insights into the heterogeneity of response amongst COVID-19 patients when combined with advanced multidimensional bioinformatics for RNA. We enrolled 36 hospitalized COVID-19 patients (11 died) and 15 controls, collecting 74 blood PAXgene RNA tubes at multiple timepoints, one early and in 23 patients after treatment with various therapies. Total RNAseq was performed …

Medical School Watercooler Newsletter - July 16, 2021, Lindsey Lyle

Watercooler Newsletter

This is the July 16, 2021 edition of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine's newsletter - Watercooler.

Contents include:

• Neonatologist Bianca Vamesu, M.D. joins pediatrics faculty
• Researchers recognized for article on effects of DHA exposure
• Meet a Med Student: Rachel Emig

Designing A Virtual Reality Experience To Reduce Anxiety Of Children With Chd During The Perioperative Period, Yang Zhang

Theses - ALL

Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) often need to bear great anxiety related to various invasive surgeries and medical procedures. In a study of virtual reality technology in the medical industry, I found that it has great development potential in reducing children's anxiety. Therefore, the goals of this thesis project were to use virtual reality technology to reduce anxiety for children with CHD. Using previous research of anxiety in children with CHD and the solutions to children's anxiety in various hospitals, this thesis summarizes the design directions. Then, through interviews with pediatric cardiologists, child development experts, and children with coronary …

2021-07-16_Michiganoverview_Covidvaccinestats, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Vaccine Data

The COVID Vaccine Dashboard page was obtained from Michigan's main COVID-19 page: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98178_103214-547150--,00.html.

Previously reported numbers of administered vaccine doses may change as new data are received. A possible lag in reporting vaccine doses will result in increases in numbers previously reported.

This report is created by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Division of Immunization from data reported to the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR).

The dashboard contained the tabs Vaccines Delivered, Delivery Trend, Doses Administered, Doses by Vaccine, Doses Metrics, Coverage, Coverage Metrics, State Level Metrics, Enrolled …

Lipoprotein-Induced Increases In Cholesterol And 7-Ketocholesterol Result In Opposite Molecular-Scale Biophysical Effects On Membrane Structure, Manuela A.A. Ayee, Irena Levitan

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

Under hypercholesterolemic conditions, exposure of cells to lipoproteins results in a subtle membrane increase in the levels of cholesterol and 7-ketocholesterol, as compared to normal conditions. The effect of these physiologically relevant concentration increases on multicomponent bilayer membranes was investigated using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. Significant changes in the structural and dynamic properties of the bilayer membranes resulted from these subtle increases in sterol levels, with both sterol species inducing decreases in the lateral area and inhibiting lateral diffusion to varying extents. Cholesterol and 7-ketocholesterol, however, exhibited opposite effects on lipid packing and orientation. The results from this study indicate …

2021-07-16_Michigandaily_Covidmap, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Daily Michigan COVID-19 Update

The "WHERE WE STAND WITH COVID-19" map was obtained from Michigan's main COVID-19 page: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus. Data was compiled by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The information was updated daily at 3p.m., Monday - Saturday.

The State of Michigan is working around the clock to test and treat COVID-19 patients. Below is the most recent data healthcare experts across the state have compiled.

The image contained a map, indicating total cases by county, and also provides statistics on Total Confirmed Cases, Total COVID-19 Deaths, Daily Confirmed Cases, and Daily COVID-19 Deaths. There …

Shu Scripts: Stories From The Heart Of Nursing, Summer 2021, Karen Bauce Ed.

News, Magazines and Reports

Farewell from Dean Mary Alice Donius.

Sarcina Organism Of The Stomach: Report Of A Case, Andre Ene, Morgan H. Mccoy, Shadi Qasem

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Faculty Publications

Sarcina Ventriculi is a gram-positive organism, rarely encountered as a human pathogen. It has been described in stomach specimens, often in patients with delayed gastric emptying. The exact role of this organism in human disease is not clear. In this case report, we describe a case of Sarcina organism associated with gastric ulceration. This organism is likely underreported and often overlooked, as it may not be obvious on routine staining. Awareness of this organism and further studies are needed to understand its role in human disease.

Tinnitus And Decreased Subcortical And Cortical Inhibition, Kenneth Vincent Morse

Dissertations - ALL

Background: The perception of tinnitus may be triggered by a reduction in inhibitory function in the central auditory nervous system. Evidence, primarily from invasive studies of animal models of tinnitus, indicates that these changes occur at both the subcortical and cortical level. Auditory evoked potential (AEP) indices of subcortical inhibition [auditory brainstem response (ABR) 〖"V/I" 〗_"amp ratio" ] and cortical inhibition [cortical auditory evoked potential (CAEP) sensory gating ratios] may provide an objective index of whether reduced subcortical and/or cortical inhibition is associated with tinnitus perception in humans. The aims of this study were to assess whether ABR and/or CAEP …

Evaluation Of Nurse Staffing, Engagement And Satisfaction In A South Carolina Rehabilitation Facility: Impact On Patient Outcomes, Eileen Klang

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Manuscripts

An acute care rehabilitation facility in Horry County, South Carolina was the setting for this program evaluation of nurse staffing, engagement and satisfaction and if those factors had any effect on patient outcomes in the facility. Nursing department staffing, engagement and patient outcome data was evaluated for trends and themes. Through stakeholder meetings, data was collected, a qualitative and quantitative satisfaction survey was administered to nursing staff. Evaluation of the data occurred and revealed multiple factors that led to nursing department turnover between 2018 and 2020. During the increase in turnover, it was noted that patient falls, and catheter associated …

N-Acetyl Cysteine Administration Affects Cerebral Blood Flow As Measured By Arterial Spin Labeling Mri In Patients With Multiple Sclerosis., Shiva Shahrampour, Justin Heholt, Andrew Wang, Faezeh Vedaei, Feroze B. Mohamed, Mahdi Alizadeh, Ze Wang, George Zabrecky, Nancy Wintering, Anthony J. Bazzan, Thomas P. Leist, Daniel A. Monti, Andrew B. Newberg

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore if administration of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) resulted in altered cerebral blood flow (CBF) based on Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: Twenty-three patients with mild to moderate MS, (17 relapsing remitting and 6 primary progressive) were randomized to either NAC plus standard of care (N = 11), or standard of care only (N = 12). The experimental group received NAC intravenously (50 mg/kg) once per week and orally (500mg 2x/day) the other six days. Patients in both groups were evaluated initially and after …

A Measure Of Expectancies For Alcohol Analgesia: Preliminary Factor Analysis, Reliability, And Validity, Lisa Renee Larowe

Dissertations - ALL

Rates of alcohol consumption are substantially higher among persons with pain, and recent research has focused on elucidating bidirectional pain-alcohol effects. Expectancies for alcohol analgesia could influence the degree to which alcohol confers acute pain-relieving effects, and may amplify the propensity to respond to pain with drinking behavior. However, no validated measures of expectancies for alcohol analgesia are available. The goal of this project was to examine psychometric properties of a measure of Expectancies for Alcohol Analgesia (EAA) across two samples (current alcohol users with and without chronic pain). Study 1 included 200 moderate-to-heavy drinkers with no current acute/chronic pain …

Different Pathways To Cognition: An Erp Investigation Of Enhanced Perceptual Functioning And Autistic Traits In School-Aged Children, Elizabeth Anne Kaplan-Kahn

Dissertations - ALL

Autistic individuals show enhanced perceptual functioning on a range of behavioral tasks. Neurophysiological evidence, from both fMRI and event related potential (ERP) studies, also supports the conclusion that autistic individuals utilize perceptual processes to a greater extent than neurotypical comparisons to support problem solving and reasoning. Despite substantial evidence supporting differential information processing streams in autism, the relationship between these processing streams and autistic traits is not well understood. One study has investigated the relationships between autistic traits, early perceptual ERPs, and subsequent cognitive ERPs in neurotypical adults; however, these relationships have yet to be explored in autistic and neurotypical …

A Systematic Review Of The Effects Of The Body Scan On Stress And Psychopathology, Melissa Morton

Dissertations - ALL

Mindfulness-based practices (MBP) have risen in popularity in research especially as an applied practice to buffer against the deleterious effects of stress and reduce psychopathology (Brown et al., 2012; Khoury et al., 2015). There are significant health problems implicated with stress and psychopathology and as such interventions, such as MBP, are frequently the topic of research to reduce stress and improve health and well-being (Juster et al., 2010; Goldberg et al., 2018). The body scan is an intervention component of MBP that involves a systematic allocation of attention through the somatic sensations of different parts of the body. Body scans …

Supporting Special Education Student's Academic Engagement Behavior With Mindfulness-Based Programming, Adam Clawson

Dissertations - ALL

Student engagement in the primary school classroom has major implications for academic achievement, school dropout rates, later adolescent delinquent behavior, and adult psychopathology and incarceration (Broidy et al., 2003; Greenwood et al., 2002; Fredricks et al., 2004; Schaeffer et al., 2003). Soles of the Feet (SOF; Felver & Singh, 2020) is a standardized mindfulness-based program that has demonstrated effectiveness in increasing general education and special education student rates of academic engagement while employing a multiple-baseline across subjects design. The present work was designed to extend previous research by exploring the efficaciousness and acceptability of the SOF program delivered as a …

Immigrant And U.S. Born Early Head Start Families: Exploring The Relationship Between Parenting Stress, Attachment Behaviors, Primary Caregiver Depressive Symptoms, And Parent-Child Attachment In A Nationally-Representative Sample, Shaelise Marie Tor

Dissertations - ALL

The current study sought to explore the relationship between parenting stress, attachment behaviors, primary caregiver depressive symptoms, and parent-child attachment in a nationally-representative Early Head Start sample of 2349 families. Additionally, the study explored whether there were differences between immigrant families and U.S. born families in terms of the main study variables. The study used a nationally representative secondary dataset, Baby FACES 2018 (Vogel et al., 2018). Data analysis was completed with PROCESS v. 3.3 (Hayes, 2018) in IBM SPSS v.26 (IBM, 2019). A series of mediation and moderated mediation models were tested aligning with each of the hypotheses. The …

The Influence Of Resilience And Expressive Flexibility On Character Strengths And Virtues On Military Leadership In U.S. Military Cadets, Vasiliki Georgoulas-Sherry

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Character strengths and virtues are greatly revered in military leadership. However, there is no empirical work assessing the relationship of resilience and expressive flexibility, two essential psychological constructs crucial in nurturing mentally healthy individuals, also for successful officer development and military leadership.

Methods: Employing a cross-sectional design, this study recruited 107 participants (ages 18 to 22) from a private U.S. Military university. McGrath, Rashid, Park, and Peterson’s and Peterson and Seligman’s taxonomies of character strengths and virtues were measured. Self-reported resilience and expressive flexibility were additionally assessed.

Results: Results revealed McGrath et al.’s virtue of self-control and Peterson and …

Spoken Word Learning In Children With Developmental Language Disorder Or Dyslexia, Suzanne M. Adlof, Lauren S. Baron, Bethany A. Bell, Joanna Scoggins

Faculty Publications

Purpose Word learning difficulties have been documented in multiple studies involving children with dyslexia and developmental language disorder (DLD; see also specific language impairment). However, no previous studies have directly contrasted word learning in these two frequently co-occurring disorders. We examined word learning in second-grade students with DLD-only and dyslexia-only as compared to each other, peers with both disorders (DLD + dyslexia), and peers with typical development. We hypothesized that children with dyslexia-only and DLD-only would show differences in word learning due to differences in their core language strengths and weaknesses. Method Children ( = 244) were taught eight novel …

Ikebana: An Ancient Tradition Of Contemporary Healing And Artful Practice, Jennifer K. Fortuna Phd, Otr/L

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Dr. Ricardo Carrásco, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is an occupational therapy professor and ikebana artist. He provided the cover art for the Summer 2021 edition of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). Ikebana is the ancient Japanese art of arranging flowers. “Kanta of the Wind, Sun and Moon” is an ikebana design made from blue and white Phalaenopsis orchids, chrysanthemum, bear grass, and heirloom driftwood. This gendaika, or freestyle design, is a haiku tribute to the wind, sun, and moon. Dr. Carrásco has been practicing occupational therapy and ikebana for more than 5 decades. As an occupational scientist and …

The Potential Of Virtual Reality In Social Skills Training For Autism: Bridging The Gap Between Research And Adoption Of Virtual Reality In Occupational Therapy Practice, Vineeta Pandey, Lori Vaughn

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Impairments in social functioning greatly hinder children and youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from responding appropriately and adapting to various social situations. As a result, individuals with ASD get fewer opportunities for social inclusion, physical well-being, and forming interpersonal relationships. Virtual reality (VR) has been studied extensively in this area, where a large body of evidence shows that VR is a promising tool for social skills training (SST) in individuals with ASD. With the flexibility and projected effectiveness that VR offers, it can provide more opportunities to learn and practice strategies for recognizing daily challenges that involve forming social …

Cognitive Orientation To Daily Occupational Performance (Co-Op): 1-Week Group Intervention With Children Referred For Motor Coordination Difficulties, Rose Martini, Jacinthe Savard

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of a Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) intervention delivered in a group format in a 1-week summer day camp program for children referred for motor coordination difficulties. Transfer of learned skills to self-selected tasks not addressed in the group intervention was also explored.

Method: A quasi-experimental one group pretest-posttest design with a 1-month follow-up was used. Changes in nine children’s self-selected occupational performance goals, as well as their sense of self-efficacy for these goals, were determined using nonparametric statistics.

Results: Findings indicate a significant …

A Comparison Of Two Keyboarding Instruction Methods Over 2 Years For Elementary Students, Denise K. Donica, Peter Giroux, Young Joo Kim, Sydney Branson

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: As computer and digital device use continues to grow in prevalence for school and work tasks, it is important for elementary-aged students to develop efficient keyboarding skills to support future academic and vocational success.

Method: A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test study design was used to compare the effect of two different keyboarding instructional approaches on elementary students over a consecutive 2-year period. One group used Keyboarding Without Tears (KWT; N = 592) both years while the other group used free web-based activities the first year and Keyboarding Without Tears the second year (mixed methods; N = 714). …

A Comparison Of Activity Participation Between Children With And Without Asthma, Jacqueline R. Jezioro, Sharon A. Gutman, Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir, Virginia Rauh, Frederica P. Perera, Rachel L. Miller

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Asthma affects approximately 6 million children in the United States and can greatly impact quality of life and occupational engagement. Although occupational therapists are well-equipped to address participation limitations, insufficient evidence exists to support the role of occupational therapists in asthma treatment.

Method: The purpose of this study was to further understand the occupational limitations experienced by children with asthma. We also explored a dual diagnosis of asthma and obesity. The participants included children with (n = 84) and without (n = 63) asthma living in New York City. The Child Behavior Checklist, Youth Self Report, Brief …

Promoting Population Health In Local Communities: Parental Perceptions Of An Embedded Movement And Physical Activity Program For A Preschool Population, Jennifer Hight, Shirley P. O'Brien, Colleen M. Schneck

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Many children reach kindergarten lacking age-appropriate motor skills because of a lack of access to early intervention services or a lack of continued early intervention beyond 3 years of age. Research suggests sedentary children become sedentary adults, which contributes to a growing population of unhealthy Americans with chronic health conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and psychosocial difficulties. Parents often are not aware of the benefits of engaging in physical activity or possess a lack of awareness of their local resources. A community based preschool movement program was created to foster physical activity and promote …