Digital Commons Network^™

Naturify 2300, Yarina Yiwei Dai

Masters Theses

In my art practice, I explore the interplay between human desires to manipulate and anthropomorphize nature, as seen in the technological augmentation of plants and living entities. This investigation delves into how this intersection, alongside empathy towards these creations, contributes to fears of uncontrollability and the risks of addiction and excessive dependence on technology.

Bioengineering and genetic modification have cultivated unprecedented developments, allowing humans to manipulate the fundamental building blocks of life. My research speculates on this technology further, modifying the genetic code of organisms and creating bioengineered wearable entities with enhanced traits or entirely new functionalities. The primary objective …

Polarization, The Pandemic, And Public Trust In Health System Actors, Alessandro Del Ponte, Alan S. Gerber, Eric M. Patashnik

Political Science Faculty Articles and Research

Context: Public opinion on the performance of health system actors is polarized today, but it remains unclear which actors enjoy the most or the least trust among Democrats and Republicans, whether the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced how people view their own physicians, and whether doctors have retained the ability to influence public beliefs about policy issues.

Methods: The authors conducted two national surveys in 2022 and 2023 to examine these questions.

Findings: Democrats rated the performance of medical research scientists and public health experts during the pandemic more highly than did Republicans and independents. About three in ten Republicans said …

Association Of Tea And Coffee Consumption And Biliary Tract Cancer Risk: The Biliary Tract Cancers Pooling Project, Yu-Han Huang, Erikka Loftfield, Ilona Argirion, Hans-Olov Adami, Demetrius Albanes, Andrew T Chan, Veronika Fedirko, Gary E Fraser, Neal D Freedman, Graham G Giles, Patricia Hartge, Verena Katzke, Synnove F Knutsen, James Lacey, Linda M Liao, Juhua Luo, Roger L Milne, Katie M O'Brien, Ulrike Peters, Jenny N Poynter, Mark P Purdue, Kim Robien, Sven Sandin, Dale P Sandler, Veronica W Setiawan, Jae H Kang, Tracey G Simon, Rashmi Sinha, Trang Vopham, Stephanie J Weinstein, Emily White, Xuehong Zhang, Bin Zhu, Katherine A Mcglynn, Peter T Campbell, Mei-Hsuan Lee, Jill Koshiol

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and aims: Tea and coffee are widely consumed beverages worldwide. We evaluated their association with biliary tract cancer (BTC) incidence.

Approach and results: We pooled data from 15 studies in the Biliary Tract Cancers Pooling Project to evaluate associations between tea and coffee consumption and biliary tract cancer development. We categorized participants as nondrinkers (0 cup/day), moderate drinkers (>0 and < 3 cups/day), and heavy drinkers (≥3 cups/day). We estimated multivariable HRs and 95% CIs using Cox models. During 29,911,744 person-years of follow-up, 851 gallbladder, 588 intrahepatic bile duct, 753 extrahepatic bile duct, and 458 ampulla of Vater cancer cases were diagnosed. Individuals who drank tea showed a statistically significantly lower incidence rate of gallbladder cancer (GBC) relative to tea nondrinkers (HR=0.77; 95% CI, 0.64-0.91), and intrahepatic bile duct cancer (IHBDC) had an inverse association (HR=0.81; 95% CI, 0.66-1.00). However, no associations were observed for extrahepatic bile duct cancer (EHBDC) or ampulla of Vater cancer (AVC). In contrast, coffee consumption was positively associated with GBC, with a higher incidence rate for individuals consuming more coffee (HR< 3 cups/day =1.29; 95% CI, 1.01-1.66; HR≥3 cups/day =1.49; 95% CI, 1.11-1.99, Ptrend=0.01) relative to coffee nondrinkers. However, there was no association between coffee consumption and GBC when restricted to coffee drinkers. There was little evidence of associations between coffee consumption and other biliary tract cancers.

Conclusions: Tea consumption was associated with a lower incidence of GBC and possibly IHBDC. Further research is warranted to replicate the observed positive association between coffee and GBC.

Covid-19 Vaccine Confidence, Concerns, And Uptake In Children Aged 5 And Older In Calgary, Alberta: A Longitudinal Cohort Study, Emily J Doucette, Leah Ricketson, Tarannum Tarannum, Isabella Alatorre, Joslyn Gray, Cora Constantinescu, Susan Kuhn, Jessica K E Dunn, James D Kellner

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVES: Beginning early in the pandemic, there was a worldwide effort to develop effective vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Before and after the approval and implementation of vaccines, there were concerns about their need as well as their safety and rapid development. We explored child demographic characteristics and parental concerns to identify factors associated with the decision to vaccinate.

METHODS: A cohort of 1035 children from Calgary was assembled in 2020 to participate in 5 visits every 6 months for survey completion and blood sampling for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Visits 1 to 2 occurred before approval of vaccines for children; Visits …

Cardiovascular Imaging, Climate Change, And Environmental Sustainability., Suvai Gunasekaran, Andrew Szava-Kovats, Thomas Battey, Jonathan Gross, Eugenio Picano, Subha V Raman, Emil Lee, Malenka M Bissell, Mirvat Alasnag, Adrienne E Campbell-Washburn, Kate Hanneman

Heart and Vascular Articles

Environmental exposures including poor air quality and extreme temperatures are exacerbated by climate change and are associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Concomitantly, the delivery of health care generates substantial atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions contributing to the climate crisis. Therefore, cardiac imaging teams must be aware not only of the adverse cardiovascular health effects of climate change, but also the downstream environmental ramifications of cardiovascular imaging. The purpose of this review is to highlight the impact of climate change on cardiovascular health, discuss the environmental impact of cardiovascular imaging, and describe opportunities to improve environmental sustainability of cardiac MRI, cardiac …

Use Of A Blood Biomarker Test Improves Economic Utility In The Evaluation Of Older Patients Presenting With Cognitive Impairment, William J Canestaro, Randall J Bateman, David M Holtzman, Mark Monane, Joel B Braunstein

2020-Current year OA Pubs

More than 16 million Americans living with cognitive impairment warrant a diagnostic evaluation to determine the cause of this disorder. The recent availability of disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is expected to significantly drive demand for such diagnostic testing. Accurate, accessible, and affordable methods are needed. Blood biomarkers (BBMs) offer advantages over usual care amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers in these regards. This study used a budget impact model to assess the economic utility of the PrecivityAD

Determining Factors For Improved Uptake Of Harm Reduction Services In The United States: A Study Of Inclusive, Culturally Sensitive Messaging, Lauretta Ekanem Omale

Dissertations

Harm reduction refers to public health policies and programs aimed at decreasing the adverse consequences associated with drug use. While harm reduction services (e.g., syringe exchange programs) can mitigate health risks, marginalized groups face barriers to service access and utilization, partially due to ineffective messaging approaches that fail to align with cultural values and experiences. A one-size-fits-all approach to messaging can negatively impact service utilization, health outcomes, and health disparities. Ineffective communication can lead to poor adherence to treatment, poorer health outcomes, and increased adverse events.

Culturally insensitive communication contributes to stigma, mistrust, and lack of perceived relevance, discouraging service …

Vaccine Uptake And Intentions: Insights From A Texas Survey On Factors Influencing Covid-19 Vaccination Decisions, Yordanos M. Tiruneh, Paula M. Cuccaro, Kimberly S. Elliott, Jing Xie, Journey Martinez, Mark Owens, Christian R. Alvarado, Jose-Miguel Yamal

School of Medicine Faculty Publications and Presentations

The effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines depends on widespread vaccine uptake. Employing a telephone-administered weighted survey with 19,502 participants, we examined the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among adults in Texas. We used multiple regression analysis with LASSO-selected variables to identify factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake and intentions to receive the vaccine among the unvaccinated. The prevalence of unvaccinated individuals (22%) was higher among those aged 18–39, males, White respondents, English speakers, uninsured individuals, those facing financial challenges, and individuals expressing no concern about contracting the illness. In a fully adjusted regression model, higher odds of being unvaccinated were observed …

Vaccine Uptake And Intentions: Insights From A Texas Survey On Factors Influencing Covid-19 Vaccination Decisions, Yordanos M Tiruneh, Paula M Cuccaro, Kimberly S Elliott, Jing Xie, Journey Martinez, Mark Owens, Christian R Alvarado, Jose-Miguel Yamal

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines depends on widespread vaccine uptake. Employing a telephone-administered weighted survey with 19,502 participants, we examined the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among adults in Texas. We used multiple regression analysis with LASSO-selected variables to identify factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake and intentions to receive the vaccine among the unvaccinated. The prevalence of unvaccinated individuals (22%) was higher among those aged 18-39, males, White respondents, English speakers, uninsured individuals, those facing financial challenges, and individuals expressing no concern about contracting the illness. In a fully adjusted regression model, higher odds of being unvaccinated were observed …

Reducing Maternal Morbidity From Peripartum Hemorrhage In Cesarean Delivery, Jennie Lee

Dissertations

Background/Purpose: Maternal hemorrhage is the second highest cause of direct maternal death and the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. This public health crisis is highlighted by the economic burden of over $30.8 million annually in the United States. The greatest tragedy in the review of maternal mortality is that 84% of pregnancy-related deaths were determined preventable. Identifying trends of factors that predispose women to hemorrhage can mitigate rates of severe maternal morbidity and mortality. This study describes relationships among demographic factors (maternal age, race, and ethnicity), clinical and physiologic factors, which include coexisting medical conditions …

Short- And Long-Term Predicted And Witnessed Consequences Of Digital Surveillance During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review, Leigha Comer, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Bradley Hiebert, Maxwell J. Smith, Anita Kothari, Saverio Stranges, Jason Gilliland, Jed Long, Jacquelyn Burkell, Jacob J. Shelley, Jodi Hall, James Shelley, Tommy Cooke, Marionette Ngole Dione, Danica Facca

Publications

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the deployment of digital technologies for public health surveillance globally. The rapid development and use of these technologies have curtailed opportunities to fully consider their potential impacts (eg, for human rights, civil liberties, privacy, and marginalization of vulnerable groups). OBJECTIVE: We conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed and gray literature to identify the types and applications of digital technologies used for surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic and the predicted and witnessed consequences of digital surveillance. METHODS: Our methodology was informed by the 5-stage methodological framework to guide scoping reviews: identifying the research question; identifying …

Describing Trends In Virginia's Dentist And Dental Hygienist Workforce: Challenges And Opportunities, Shillpa Naavaal, Yetty Shobo, Barbara Hodgdon

Virginia Journal of Public Health

Purpose: Regular assessment of the dental workforce is essential to improve the population's oral health. This analysis aimed to understand the trends in the distribution of dentists and dental hygienists (DHs) in Virginia.

Methods: Annual survey data (2013-2022) of dentists and DHs from the Virginia Department of Health Professions Healthcare Workforce Data Center was used to examine the trends in provider distribution by age, gender, race/ethnicity, and geography across Virginia.

Results: In 2022, there were 5,720 dentists and 5,290 DH licensees in Virginia. In the dentist workforce, there was a high representation of those aged ≥60 years (23%), males (58%), …

Brain Health Index As A Predictor Of Possible Vascular Dementia In The Mexican Health And Aging Study 2012–2015, Sara G. Aguilar-Navarro, Sara G. Yeverino-Castro, Silvia Mejia-Arango, Rogelio Moctezuma, Teresa Juarez-Cedillo, Alberto José Mimenza-Alvarado

School of Medicine Publications

To determine the burden of disease among subjects at risk of developing stroke or dementia, brain health indexes (BHI) tend to rely on anatomical features. Recent definitions emphasize the need of a broader perspective that encompasses cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFS) and lifestyle components which can be considered partial contributors to optimal brain health. In this study, we aimed to establish the association and risk detected by a Brain Health Index and the risk of possible vascular dementia (PVD) using data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) 2012–2015. The MHAS is a longitudinal study of adults aged ≥ 50 …

Recent Findings On The Effectiveness Of Peer Support For Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, James J. Werner, Kelsey Ufholz, Prashant Yamajala

Faculty Scholarship

Purpose of Review: To review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from 2021–2023 that reported the effects of peer support interventions on outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Recent Findings: Literature searches yielded 137 articles and nine RCTs were ultimately reviewed. The reviewed trials involved in-person support groups, peer coach/mentor support, cultural peer support by community health workers, peer support during shared medical appointments (SMAs) including virtual reality-based SMAs, telehealth-facilitated programs, and telephone peer support. Most interventions combined two or more peer support strategies. Peer support was associated with significant decreases in HbA1c in 6 of the 9 reviewed …

Lyme Disease In The Northeast: The Unintended Consequence Of Suburban Development, Hayden Neubert

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper addresses the role of suburban development in the suburbs of the Northeastern United States in increasing human Lyme disease infection. Over the past 50 years, Lyme disease has become the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. In 2021, the two states with the most Lyme disease cases were New York and New Jersey, with a collective 6,524 cases, with Connecticut still representing 541 total cases. It is not a coincidence that case numbers are concentrated in suburban areas with high forest fragmentation. Chapter 1 of this essay analyzes how human land development disrupts bioregulatory ecosystem actors …

A Body Disinterred: Academic Grave Robbing And Its Consequences, Jordan Ottaviano

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

This thesis examines the local case of Ella Jamerson, a victim of grave robbing for the purposes of anatomization, in order to display the paradigm shift in documentation which this incident brought to its community. Anatomization is the dissection of individuals in order to gain knowledge concerning the structures and functions of the human body. This practice, though responsible for advancements within the study of human medicine, maintains a heavy stigma of discomposure due to previously unethical methods through which bodies have historically been procured for dissection. The act of resurrection, or graverobbing for medical education was utilized to provide …

Impact Of Temperature On Children’S Nutrition: A Comparative Study Of Three Ecological Regions Of Nepal, Prakriti Shakya

Master's Theses

Nutrition obtained during the growth period of childhood significantly influences long-term well-being and overall productivity, ultimately contributing to the economy of a society. However, weather shocks can wreak havoc by damaging crops, changing yields of important crops and disrupting market access, which directly impacts the food intake of both adults and children. When these adverse events occur during childhood, short term and long term inadequacy in nutrition as well as disease incidence can cause malnutrition leading to stunted growth and cognitive impairment that may persist into adulthood, affecting the labor market and increasing health expenditure. To address this issue, we …

The Impact Of Female Political Leadership On Intimate Partner Violence In India, Khushboo Patel

Master's Theses

Abstract:

This study employs an instrumental variable approach to examine the impact of female political leadership on women’s experiences of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). It finds that in rural areas with more female leaders, incidents of sexual and psychological IPV increase. The analysis investigates the drivers behind this impact, revealing that entrenched gender norms and expectations, such as a husband’s preference for more sons, may exacerbate IPV. Additionally, despite the increase in female leaders, attitudes toward violence remain largely unchanged. These findings highlight the need for research and policy initiatives that not only encourage female political participation but also specifically …

The Experiences Of Alaska Native Students' Decision To Enter Nursing School: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Denise Michelle Gilliland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenology study was to examine the lived experiences of Alaska Native students’ decisions to enter nursing school, thus choosing nursing as a career. The increased recruitment of Alaska Natives into nursing is imperative. According to the research, a direct association exists between increasing the number of minority nurses and decreasing health inequities. Despite the demand, only a small number of Alaska Native students continue to enroll in nursing programs in Alaska. The theories guiding this study were Ryan and Deci’s self-determination theory and Lowe and Struthers’s theory of nursing in Native American culture. They provided …

Plenary: Mathematics Of Malaria Transmission Dynamics: The Renewed Quest For Eradication, Abba Gumel

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Inequality And Opportunity: Ranking Community Health In Florence County, Sc, Stephen Borders, Lauren Carter, Brandy Hayden, Mary Elizabeth Magyar

Public Health

Florence County is at the heart of the seven-county Pee Dee Region of South Carolina with a diverse population of about 136,000 residents. Home to McLeod Regional Medical Center and MUSC Health Florence Medical Center, the area boasts more than 750 licensed beds. Despite being home to world-class medical care, the county faces significant health challenges, including high rates of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and obesity, and a shortage of healthcare providers in certain areas. These challenges are exacerbated by the county's socio-economic disparities, with many low-income residents lacking access to basic health services. Our approach addresses these challenges …

Spatial Associations Of Lung Cancer Rates And Socioeconomic, Health, And Environmental Factors In Georgia, Nguyet Le, Jun Tu

Symposium of Student Scholars

According to CDC, Lung and Bronchus Cancer ranks the highest by the rate of cancer deaths among different types of cancers in the United States with the rate of 31.8 per 100 thousand people, and also for Georgia with the rate of 33.4 per 100 thousand people. Thus, to reduce the death rate of lung cancer, it is quite important and urgent to understand its risk factors. Smoking and inhaling radon are among the top risk factors of lung cancer for individuals. The socioeconomic, health, and environmental characteristics of communities might be also related to the likelihood of getting …

Improving Mental Health Support For Nursing Students Through Mental Health First Aid (Mhfa) Training Of Clinical Faculty, Amy Sands

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

This project aimed to implement a process improvement program at the Louisville campus of Galen College of Nursing to improve the mental health support for nursing students through the training of Clinical Instructors (CIs) in using adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and the ALGEE actions described within that program.

Moca Normative Data On Young Adults Using An Adapted Version And Remote Administration Via Zoom, Elizabeth Johns

Honors Theses

Overview:

Cognitive decline is often associated with the emergence of dementia and other negative developments in health. Due to the potential for harm that cognitive decline can cause, it is essential that clinicians are able to detect and identify when it is occurring. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is useful clinically mainly because of the test’s ability to identify mild cognitive impairment. Following the pandemic in 2020, telehealth has become prominent. Previous studies considering MoCA have mostly used samples of older adults, but it is important to understand the impact of traumatic brain injuries on young adults. The following study …

Knowledge And Perceptions Of Pharmacogenomics Among Mississippi Pharmacists, Nicholas Dean

Honors Theses

Pharmacogenomics (PGx), an area of study that relates a patient’s genetics to the medicines they take, has been shown to be an effective alternative to trial-and-error prescribing. Despite the benefits pharmacogenomics may bring, pharmacists, while optimistic about the practice, appear to lack knowledge and access to other resources to bring PGx to the front lines of practice. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess Mississippi pharmacists’ knowledge and attitudes about PGx, readiness for practice of PGx, their education needs for PGx, their application of PGx in practice, and their perception of the ethics of PGx practice.

A cross-sectional …

Addressing Or Reinforcing Injustice? Artificial Amnion And Placenta Technology, Loss-Sensitive Care And Racial Inequities In Preterm Birth, Sophie L Schott, Faith Fletcher, Alice Story, April Adams

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

A Study On The 2016 And 2022 Ms And Oh Populations: How Obesity Is Related To The Co-Mingling Of Median Household Income, Limited Access To Healthy Foods And Limited Access To Exercise Opportunities, Ben Schlessel, Justice Williams

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: Obesity has plagued the United States for decades, and while the implications of obesity have drastically changed over time (from a sign of wealth to a possible implication of mal/low nutrition), its impacts on the country’s population are abrasive and costly. Objective: The aim is to address and investigate how factors such as Median Household Income (MHI), Limited Access to Healthy Food and Limited Access to Exercise interplay with and correlate to obesity. Methods: Data acquired from the County Health Rankings was analyzed using several analysis strategies (paired and unpaired T-tests, and regression plots, etc.). Only Mississippi and Ohio …

Persistent Inequities In Intravenous Thrombolysis For Acute Ischemic Stroke In The United States: Results From The Nationwide Inpatient Sample, Philip Sun, Ling Zheng, Michelle Lin, Steven Cen, Gmerice Hammond, Karen E Joynt Maddox, May Kim-Tenser, Nerses Sanossian, William Mack, Amytis Towfighi

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Despite its approval for acute ischemic stroke >25 years ago, intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) remains underused, with inequities by age, sex, race, ethnicity, and geography. Little is known about IVT rates by insurance status.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We assessed temporal trends from 2002 to 2015 in IVT for acute ischemic stroke in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample using adjusted, survey

CONCLUSIONS: IVT for acute ischemic stroke increased among adults. Despite some encouraging trends, the remaining disparities highlight the need for intensified efforts at addressing inequities.

Ada News - 05/06/2024, American Dental Association, Publishing Division

ADA News

Established in 1970 as the official newspaper of the American Dental Association, the ADA News serves practicing dentists and others allied to the dental profession in the U.S. and internationally. It is the No. 1 source of news and information about the many benefits and services the ADA delivers to members daily as well as timely information on scientific, social, political and economic developments affecting dentistry and health care.

Promoting Physiologic Birth By Improving Access To Doulas, Karen Schwartz

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Translational and Clinical Research Projects

Birth in the United States (U.S.) leans towards a medicalized approach, overlooking the advantages of physiologic birth. Physiologic birth is a natural approach to childbirth, without medical interventions. Intrapartum nurses play an integral role in caring for women during labor by providing continuous labor support. Competing nursing tasks, exacerbated nursing shortages and increased nurse to patient ratios have made it increasingly challenging for intrapartum (IP) nurses to provide continuous labor support to their patients. The aim of this DNP project is to gain insight into the beliefs of IP nurses regarding childbirth and how these beliefs impact their approach to …