Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Evaluating The Efficiency Of Treatment Comparison In Crossover Design By Allocating Subjects Based On Ranked Auxiliary Variable, Yisong Huang, Hani Samawi, Robert Vogel, Jingjing Yin, Worlanyo E. Gato, Daniel Linder

Hani M. Samawi

The validity of statistical inference depends on proper randomization methods. However, even with proper randomization, we can have imbalanced with respect to important characteristics. In this paper, we introduce a method based on ranked auxiliary variables for treatment allocation in crossover designs using Latin squares models. We evaluate the improvement of the efficiency in treatment comparisons using the proposed method. Our simulation study reveals that our proposed method provides a more powerful test compared to simple randomization with the same sample size. The proposed method is illustrated by conducting an experiment to compare two different concentrations of titanium dioxide nanofiber ...

Estimation Of P(X > Y) When X And Y Are Dependent Random Variables Using Different Bivariate Sampling Schemes, Hani M. Samawi, Amal Helu, Haresh Rochani, Jingjing Yin, Daniel Linder

Hani M. Samawi

The stress-strength models have been intensively investigated in the literature in regards of estimating the reliability θ = P (X > Y) using parametric and nonparametric approaches under different sampling schemes when X and Y are independent random variables. In this paper, we consider the problem of estimating θ when (X, Y) are dependent random variables with a bivariate underlying distribution. The empirical and kernel estimates of θ = P (X > Y), based on bivariate ranked set sampling (BVRSS) are considered, when (X, Y) are paired dependent continuous random variables. The estimators obtained are compared to their counterpart, bivariate simple random sampling (BVSRS ...

Correction Of Verication Bias Using Log-Linear Models For A Single Binaryscale Diagnostic Tests, Haresh Rochani, Hani M. Samawi, Robert L. Vogel, Jingjing Yin

Hani M. Samawi

In diagnostic medicine, the test that determines the true disease status without an error is referred to as the gold standard. Even when a gold standard exists, it is extremely difficult to verify each patient due to the issues of costeffectiveness and invasive nature of the procedures. In practice some of the patients with test results are not selected for verification of the disease status which results in verification bias for diagnostic tests. The ability of the diagnostic test to correctly identify the patients with and without the disease can be evaluated by measures such as sensitivity, specificity and predictive ...

Breastfeeding Practices Among Native Hawaiians And Pacific Islanders, Ingrid K. Adams, Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli, Akilah Dulin Keita, Ana Maria Linares, Keiko Tanaka, Joshua R. Polanin, Annie Koempel

Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli

Background. Breastfeeding is associated with a decreased risk of obesity in the early and adult years. Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) experience high rates of obesity which is often obfuscated with aggregated data. Using disaggregated data, we examined breastfeeding practices among NHPI. Methods. Seven databases and reference lists were searched. Two independent researchers extracted relevant studies based on predetermined criteria. Nine studies met our inclusion criteria and a meta-analysis was conducted using random-effects, inverse-various weighted models. Results. Few studies disaggregated NHPI populations when examining breastfeeding practices. Most studies were cross-sectional and our search yielded no randomized or quasirandomized control ...

Conservative Treatment For Patients With Suspected Slap Tears: A Case Series, Stephanie D. Moore-Reed, Kelley A. Seekins, W. Ben Kibler, Aaron D. Sciascia, Timothy L. Uhl

Timothy L. Uhl

Objective: Outcome following non-operative management of superior labral anterior to posterior (SLAP) lesions has been under reported with little empirical data demonstrating the effectiveness of conservative treatment. Material and Methods: 10 patients, 5 matched pairs, presenting with symptoms consistent with a SLAP lesion performed a standardized phased rehabilitation program completing patient reported outcome (PRO) and pain measures before and following rehabilitation. Physical therapy notes and home exercise logs were reviewed and all exercises were recorded and coded using the phased rehabilitation protocol as a guide. At followup, patients were divided into two groups; responders and non-responders to treatment based on ...

Determinants Of Mobile Health Adoption In Burundi, Patrick Ndayizigamiye, Manoj Maharaj

The African Journal of Information Systems

Mobile health (or mHealth) can be broadly defined as the use of mobile devices and technologies to provide healthcare services. The potential of mHealth interventions to address healthcare issues, particularly in developing countries, is widely recognised. Although mHealth has yielded positive outcomes in various contexts, there is a need for designing mHealth interventions that are specifically tailored to the context of individual countries in order to increase the prospects of adoption. It is in this context that, using the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory, this paper investigates the determinants for the adoption of mobile health by healthcare professionals in Burundi ...

A Review Of Studies Of Ventilation And Indoor Air Quality In New Homes And Impacts Of Environmental Factors On Formaldehyde Emission Rates From Composite Wood Products, Francis (Bud) Offermann, Cheri Marcham

Cheri Marcham

• While increasing outdoor air ventilation rates does reduce the indoor concentrations of air contaminants with indoor sources, the actual reductions in concentrations can differ significantly from those calculated with the assumption of a constant indoor emission rate.
• The ratio of actual to predicted concentration reductions for the low to high outdoor air ventilation modes ranged from 0.59 for formaldehyde to 1.37 for benzaldehyde.
• Increases in emission rates for compounds such as formaldehyde are consistent with mass transfer theory for emissions from materials such as composite wood where mass transfer is limited by gas-phase diffusion across the boundary layer ...

Effect Of Natural Products Against Growth Of Three Allergenic And Toxigenic Molds, Brittany Loadholt, Teyaijah Givens, Nosa Lloyd Nwaonumah, Bushra Shah, Atin Adhikari

Atin Adhikari

Dampness and fungal exposures in buildings are widespread, with estimates ranging from 18% to 50% of buildings being affected. Of the 21.8 million people reported to have asthma in the USA, approximately 4.6 million cases are attributable to dampness and mold exposure in the home. Consequent national annual cost of asthma is about $3.5 billion. Several fungal genera from damp environments were reported to be associated with allergy and/or asthma and some species can release mycotoxins in the environment. Although there are several mold inhibitor or disinfectant solutions and sprays available in the market for cleaning ...

Effect Of Natural Products On Overall Microbial Activity In Household Items, Teyaijah Givens, Nosa Lloyd Nwaonumah, Brittany Loadholt, Bushra Shah, Atin Adhikari

Atin Adhikari

Indoor contamination from microorganisms is an important health hazard issue (e.g., respiratory allergy, infections, and food contamination). Particularly, growth of molds and bacteria in damp environmental conditions could be hazardous for the occupants susceptible to microbial allergens. The growing awareness concerning the adverse effects of chlorine bleach and cleaning chemicals calls for field-testing new natural ingredients with functional properties against microorganisms. Essential oils possess a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity, which may be of great importance for controlling indoor microbial exposure. The objective of this study was to investigate how microbial growth in different surfaces of homes reacted to ...

Microbial Activity And Airborne Culturable Microbial Concentrations In South Georgia Homes, Alli Mcinerney, Jacquelyn Lewis, Errol Spence, Bushra Shah, Atin Adhikari

Atin Adhikari

Indoor microorganisms and microbial allergens can lead to harmful respiratory effects in the human body such as allergies, asthma, chronic bronchitis, infections, and even contamination of food stuffs. This study was conducted in order to test the indoor microbial pollutants in local Statesboro homes, and relate the findings to respiratory disease symptoms of occupants. Thus far, samples have been collected and data analyzed for 15 homes. This specific part of the study focuses on the amount of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in homes. ATP is a source of energy produced through glucose metabolism and the citric acid cycle. ATP levels can ...

Inhalable Exposure Levels Of Airborne Mold Spores In Rural Georgia Homes, Jacquelyn Lewis, Alli Mcinerney, Errol Spence, Bushra Shah, Atin Adhikari

Atin Adhikari

Exposure to mold is known to cause allergic symptoms. Most molds produce highly allergenic proteins or glycoproteins that can cause hypersensitivity diseases in susceptible hosts. Between 10% and 60% of genetically susceptible persons develop immediate hypersensitivity to mold. The Institute of Medicine report on Damp Indoor Spaces and Health states that there is sufficient evidence to conclude that a causal relationship exists between the presence of mold and upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, hypersensitivity pneumonitis in susceptible persons, wheeze, and asthma symptoms in sensitized asthmatic persons. To our knowledge, no research has been conducted in rural Georgia to test the ...

Effect Of Air Flow Rates In Versatrap Slit Impactor Cassettes On The Collection Of Atmospheric Mold Spores In A Rural Community, Bushra Shah, Tedd Gandy, Oreoluwa Adeyinka, Galela Shebani, Atin Adhikari

Atin Adhikari

Exposure to mold allergens including mold spores and hyphal fragments are associated with allergic sensitization which is a risk factor for asthma in a community. Smaller aerodynamic size of spores (åµm) allows them to penetrate and settle in the lower airways and produce damaging byproducts (allergens, glucans, mycotoxins, and other immunomodulators). Usually mold spores in ambient atmosphere are collected by impactors in air monitoring stations and in most cases these impactors are operated in a single standard air flow rate. However, sampling efficiency of an impactor can change in different air flow rates and since spore aerodynamic sizes vary a ...

Airborne Bacterial Exposure At Workers' Breathing Height In An Organic Farm Of Rural Georgia, Tedd Gandy, Nabanita Mukherjee, Bushra Shah, Subhrajit K. Saha, Pratik Banerjee, Atin Adhikari

Atin Adhikari

Organic farming has potentials to contribute substantially to future sustainable agricultural production by improving soil quality, pest control, and reduction of adverse environmental impacts in rural agricultural communities. On the other hand, application of natural farmyard manure may increase the microbial biomass in this environment and consequently microbial exposure levels among workers could be increased. To explore this possibility of excess exposure, particularly to airborne bacteria, we conducted air sampling at the vicinity of poultry and dairy sections of a large organic farm in a rural Georgia location. For air sampling, a Biostage viable cascade impactor was utilized, which comprises ...

Infectious Disease And The Diversification Of The Human Genome, Jessica F. Brinkworth

Human Biology Open Access Pre-Prints

The human immune system is under great pathogen-mediated selective pressure. A combination of divergent infectious disease pathogenesis across human populations, and the overrepresentation of “immune genes” in genomic regions with signatures of positive selection suggests that pathogens have significantly altered the human genome. However, important features of the human immune system can confound searches for and interpretations of signatures of pathogen-mediated evolution. Immune system redundancy, immune gene pleiotropy, host ability to acquire immunity and alter the immune repertoire of their offspring through “priming”, and host microbiome complicate evolutionary interpretations of host- pathogen interactions. The overall promiscuity and sensitivity of the ...

Revised 10-10-2017 Hsc Committee Notice Of Meeting, Patrice Martin

HSC Committee (A subcommittee of the UNM Board of Regents)

No abstract provided.

Remote Video Monitoring Is Another Example Of “Dying On The Machine” For Critically Ill Patients, Noveera A. Mirza, Joshua A. Christian, Christopher M. Lajeunesse

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A critical appraisal and clinical application of Hardin SR, Dienemann J, Rudisill P, Mills KK. Inpatient fall prevention: use of in-room webcams. J Patient Saf. 2013 Mar;9(1):29-35. doi: 10.1097/PTS.0b013e3182753e4f

Patient-Controlled Analgesia Improves Pain Control In A Vaso-Occlusive Crisis In Sickle Cell Patients, Rujul H. Parikh

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A critical appraisal and clinical application of van Beers EJ, van Tuijn CF, Nieuwkerk PT, Friederich PW, Vranken JH, Biemond BJ. Patient-controlled analgesia versus continuous infusion of morphine during vaso-occlusive crisis in sickle cell disease, a randomized controlled trial. Am J Hematol. 2007;82(11):955-60. doi: 10.1002/ajh.20944

The Family Model, Adrian Falkov

Journal of Parent and Family Mental Health

The Family Model provides clinicians and managers with a brief, accessible, and practical approach that supports collaborative ways of working with individuals and their families in which one or more members experience mental illness. It can be used as a tool to foster engagement and facilitate thought about connections between symptoms and relationships, while highlighting a family’s strengths and difficulties.

10-10-2017 Notice Of Hsc Committee Meeting, Patrice Martin

HSC Committee (A subcommittee of the UNM Board of Regents)

No abstract provided.

Saturation And Response Dependence Of Oslds And Microstar Reader In The High Dose Range For Intrabeam Kv X-Rays And Initial Investigation Into The Use Of Gafchromic Film As An In Vivo Dosimeter In The High Dose Region, Travis Bryant

Scholar Archive

No abstract provided.