Digital Commons Network^™

Fundamental Clock Of Biological Aging: Convergence Of Molecular, Neurodegenerative, Cognitive And Psychiatric Pathways: Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics Meet Psychology, Victor V. Dyakin, Nuka V. Dyakina-Fagnano, Laura B. Mcintire, Vladimir N. Uversky

Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

In humans, age-associated degrading changes, widely observed in molecular and cellular processes underly the time-dependent decline in spatial navigation, time perception, cognitive and psychological abilities, and memory. Cross-talk of biological, cognitive, and psychological clocks provides an integrative contribution to healthy and advanced aging. At the molecular level, genome, proteome, and lipidome instability are widely recognized as the primary causal factors in aging. We narrow attention to the roles of protein aging linked to prevalent amino acids chirality, enzymatic and spontaneous (non-enzymatic) post-translational modifications (PTMs SP), and non-equilibrium phase transitions. The homochirality of protein synthesis, resulting in the steady-state non-equilibrium condition …

Serious Mental Illness In Nursing Homes: Quality Concerns, Dylan J. Jester

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Objective: This dissertation is made of two academic papers followed by a chapter discussing policy implications of the findings. The objective of this dissertation is to better understand if high-serious mental illness (SMI) nursing homes (NHs) provide poorer quality of care (e.g., operationalized as staffing levels, NH Compare quality star ratings, and health deficiencies) and whether quality in high-SMI NHs is confounded by payer mix (e.g., the proportion of residents who are Medicaid-reimbursed). A modified Donabedian Structure, Process, Outcome (SPO) Model was used as the main theoretical framework.

Methods: Data came from the Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reports (CASPER) …

Exogenous Ketone Supplements For Reducing Anxiety-Related Behavior, Csilla Ari D'Agostino, Dominic Paul D'Agostino

USF Patents

Methods of treating anxiety disorders or reducing anxiety-related behaviors. The methods include administering a therapeutically effective amount of ketone supplementation, such as butanediol, ketone esters (e.g., 1,3-butanediol-acetoacetate diester) and/or ketone salts (e.g., beta-hydroxybutyrate-mineral salt), chronically, sub-chronically, or acutely, with or without admixture with a medium chain triglyceride or in combination. It was determined herein that ketone supplementation reduced anxiety in rats on elevated plus maze as measured by less entries to closed arms, more time spent in open arms, more distance travelled in open arms, and delayed latency to entrance to closed arms, when compared to control. Along with reducing …

The Relationship Between New Graduate Registered Nurse Knowledge, Experiences, Attitudes, And Age Bias Toward The Older Adult, Michelle Fox

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There had been a lack of research on the relationship between a new graduate Registered Nurses’ knowledge, experiences, attitudes, and age bias toward older adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there was a relationship between new graduate Registered Nurses’ knowledge, experiences, attitudes, and age bias toward older adults.

The researcher used correlational, non-experimental, quantitative design for this study. The instruments used in this study were the Facts on Aging Quiz, the Kogan Attitude Toward Old People scale, and a demographic questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the demographic data and correlation coefficients were used to …

Crow's Nest, February 1, 2021, Crow's Nest Staff

Crow's Nest

The February 1, 2021, issue of the Crow's Nest.

Usf Libraries Libguides Task Force Report 2020-2021, Usf Libraries

All Assessment Data

No abstract provided.

Advancing Gerontological Nursing At The Intersection Of Age-Friendly Communities, Health Systems, And Public Health, Jane Carmody, Kathy Black, Alice Bonner, Megan Wolfe, Terry Fulmer

Aging Studies Sarasota Manatee Campus Faculty Publications

Mounting efforts to improve care and promote healthy aging throughout society and across the care continuum have created unique opportunities for gerontological nursing practice. Population aging has invoked a multitude of responses among all levels of international and national organizations, foundations, health care, and government to meet the needs and promote preferences of older adults. Large-scale programs by the World Health Organization, The John A. Hartford Foundation, Institute for Health-care Improvement, and Trust for America's Health have galvanized to advance the momentum of age-friendly communities, health care, and public health. Gerontological nurses can leverage this growing interest in aging by …

Evaluation Of Aging And Genetic Mutation Variants On Tauopathy, Amber M. Tetlow

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by amyloid β plaques and neurofibrillary tau tangles (NFTs). While research has demonstrated amyloid pathology occurs prior to tau pathology, or tauopathy, tau has proven to be more toxic. Tauopathy is associated with cognitive declines and neurodegeneration. These findings have highlighted the importance of further understanding tauopathy. In the progression of tauopathy, there is an observable immune response that can be measured by glial cells such as microglia. Activated microglia are known to exacerbate tauopathy rather than reducing the pathology. Research has indicated that with increased age there is an increased risk for AD-related tauopathy …

The Effect Of Hope On The Relationship Between Personal And Disease Characteristics And Anxiety And Depression In Adolescents And Young Adults With Cancer, Sharon B. Mcneil

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer face physical, psychosocial, emotional, and developmental challenges that are unique to their age group. In facing the crisis of a cancer diagnosis, both social support and hope have been shown to be tools utilized by some AYAs. However, AYAs have higher rates of anxiety and depression than in older adults which may have an effect on their levels of hope.

This cross-sectional study examined the mechanistic effects of hope on the relationship between personal characteristics of age, gender, and social support, the disease characteristics of type of cancer and length of time since …

Position/Weight-Activated Knee Locking Mechanism, Tyagi Ramakrishnan, Kyle B. Reed

USF Patents

A passive knee locking mechanism using the position of the shank and the weight of the user to lock. The mechanism has translational motion, which allows the shank to move linearly along the sagittal/vertical plane, which locks and unlocks the knee, and rotational motion for the shank to swing when unlocked. The knee block, which is disposed at the top of the shank, has a spur gear that locks with a matching gear rack on the top plate of the knee housing. The side plates for the knee housing have a linear path that makes for the translational motion. During …

Caregiver Well-Being And Burden: Variations By Race/Ethnicity And Care Recipient Nativity Status, Heehyul E. Moon, William E. Haley, Sunshine M. Rote, Jeanelle S. Sears

Aging Studies Faculty Publications

Background and Objectives

Despite growing diversity among the aging population and extensive previous research on racial/ethnic minority caregivers, little research has been conducted on the potentially unique experiences and outcomes of informal caregivers of foreign-born care recipients. Using nationally representative data and the Stress Process Model, the current study examined the differences in caregiver outcomes (care burden, psychological well-being, and self-rated health) by care recipient nativity status (U.S.-born vs. foreign-born) and the extent to which caregiver outcomes vary by care recipient nativity status and caregiver race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and Others). Research Design and Methods

The current study …

Vision Loss Among Delaware Nursing Home Residents, Robert B. Å. Andersson, Mashael Al-Namaeh, William A. Monaco, Hongdao Meng

Aging Studies Faculty Publications

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of vision loss among Delaware nursing home residents for further data collection to expand the existing evidence about the vision loss among nursing home residents on a national level.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved the statistical analysis of comprehensive eye examination records of 1,856 nursing residents residing in 20 Delaware nursing homes from 2005 to 2011. Descriptive statistical analyses were conducted to identify age-specific prevalence rates of vision loss (moderate-to-severe vision impairment and blindness).

Results: The mean age of nursing home residents was 82.54 years (range: 65–111 years), and 61.70% were over the age of …

Position/Weight-Activated Knee Locking Mechanism, Tyagi Ramakrishnan, Kyle B. Reed

USF Patents

A passive knee locking mechanism using the position of the shank and the weight of the user to lock. The mechanism has translational motion, which allows the shank to move linearly along the sagittal/vertical plane, which locks and unlocks the knee, and rotational motion for the shank to swing when unlocked. The knee block, which is disposed at the top of the shank, has a spur gear that locks with a matching gear rack on the top plate of the knee housing. The side plates for the knee housing have a linear path that makes for the translational motion. During …

Hormone Treatment For Age-Related Hearing Loss-Presbycusis, Robert Dana Frisina, Joseph Paul Walton, Bo Ding, Xiaoxia Zhu

USF Patents

Permanent hearing loss or deafness affects about 15% of people worldwide, about 40 million in the US alone. There are currently no FDA-approved drugs on the market in the US, or anywhere in the world that prevent, treat or reverse permanent hearing loss or deafness. Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is one of the most common forms of permanent hearing loss and deafness. ARHL is the #1 neurodegenerative disorder, #1 communication disorder, and 1 of the top 3 chronic medical conditions (along with arthritis & cardiovascular diseases) of our aged population. The incidence of ARHL is increasing due to the “Baby …

The Weekly Challenger, June 20, 2019, The Weekly Challenger, Et Al

Weekly Challenger Newspaper Collection

The June 20, 2019, issue of The Weekly Challenger.

Using A Stress Process Model To Examine Longitudinal Racial Differences In Well-Being And Health: Results From A Population-Based Study Of Caregiving, Adrian N. S. Badana

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As the older adult population of the United States increases over the next decade, many family caregivers will be needed to provide care for aging loved ones. The growing diversity of the population may also mean that more racial/ethnic minority caregivers will be providing care to older family members. Most of the studies examining race and caregiving have focused on racial differences in stress, coping, well-being and health among White and Black family caregivers. However, previous research examining racial differences in caregiving has often been limited to smaller convenience samples of caregivers, which limit generalizability of study findings. In this …

Forum, Volume 43, No. 1, Spring 2019, Florida Humanities Council, Jacki Levine

FORUM: The Magazine of Florida Humanities

Contents: Finding Shared Values -- Igniting a Spark in the Center of It All -- Humanities Today -- This Florida Life: A Life of Firsts -- A Teacher to Remember: Awakening the Reader Within -- Insider's Florida: A Tale of Two Cities -- State of Inspiration: Finding Home -- Florida by Design: Embracing the Sea and Sky -- Artful Revivals -- The Sweetness of Memory -- My Florida Journey: A New Life in America -- Why We Tell These Stories -- State of Wonder: Rounding the Curve

The Weekly Challenger, March 7, 2019, The Weekly Challenger, Et Al

Weekly Challenger Newspaper Collection

The March 7, 2019, issue of The Weekly Challenger.

The Use Of Mobility Devices And Personal Assistance: A Joint Modeling Approach, Hongdao Meng, Lindsay J. Peterson, Lijuan Feng, Debra Dobbs, Kathryn Hyer

Aging Studies Faculty Publications

Objective: To examine whether mobility device use substitutes for personal assistance among U.S. older adults.

Method: Using the National Health and Aging Trends Study, we identified 3,211 community-living older adults (aged 65 and older) who reported mobility difficulties at baseline. We used recursive bivariate probit models to simultaneously estimate the effect of covariates on the likelihood of using (a) mobility devices and (b) personal assistance to accommodate mobility difficulty. Independent variables included age, gender, race, physical/mental health status, cognition, and comorbidities.

Results: Predictors of the use of personal assistance and mobility devices exhibit important similarities and differences. Device use reduced …

Cognitive And Functional Status Of Persons Newly Enrolled At Dementia-Specific Adult Day Centers And Burden Of Their Caregivers, David A. Chiriboga, Nan S. Park, Karen Gilbert, Victor A. Molinari, Mary Barnes

Child and Family Studies Faculty Publications

Background and Objectives: Recognizing the important role that dementia-specific adult day centers have in maintaining persons with a neurocognitive disorder in their home, this article examines three critical indicators at the time when people first enroll in such a center: cognitive and functional impairment of the enrollee, and burden reported by their family caregivers. We also considered variations in these 3 indicators by race/ethnicity and by the relationship of caregiver to the new enrollee.

Research Design and Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected by a nonprofit organization operating 11 dementia-specific adult day centers located on the east …

Psychological And Social Factors Associated With Sleep Health Across Adulthood, Soomi Lee, Orfeu M. Buxton

Aging Studies Faculty Publications

Sleep is associated with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, as well as daily social interactions and productivity. Studies often have focused on sleep duration only, lacking the ability to comprehensively understand the importance of age-related changes in varied facets of sleep health. Moreover, psychological and social factors that may be associated with sleep health in adulthood are still poorly understood. This symposium showcases contemporary endeavors towards understanding how diverse indicators of sleep health relate to psychological and social factors across adulthood. Paper 1 uses perceived job discrimination as a social stressor to test associations between perceived job discrimination and …

Commencement Convocation Program, Usf, Baccalaureates, December 7, 2018, University Of South Florida

USF Graduation and Convocation Programs

Honorary Doctor of Science - Melanie Sanford; President's Fellow Medallion - Mayor Bob Buckhorn; President's Global Leadership Award - Dyann Wirth; King O'Neal Scholars - Andrea Arciniegas, Jessica Bullock, Anna Eliason, Tiffany Garner, Bailey Gavulic, Victoria Hoang, Stephanie Hogue, Briana Luthman, Asgard Marroquin, Justin Mohr, Jenn Moser, Rida Mughal, Kristiana Nasto, Marilluly Peraza, Kirby Powers, Keska Register, Jordan Stofan, Michael Talavera, Veronica Vazquez, Thomas Vieiera, Rylee Wagner, Savannah Warner, Aubrey Wolfe, David Wylie, and Shahrzad Zamani; Outstanding Graduate - Shahriar "Shawn" Zamani

Forum, Volume 42, No. 2, Fall 2018, Florida Humanities Council, Jacki Levine

FORUM: The Magazine of Florida Humanities

Contents: Celebrating the Power of the Word -- Exploring Our Connections -- Humanities Today -- A Teacher to Remember: Thank You, Mr. Crouch -- This Florida Life: A Conversation with Sarah Hammill -- Insider's Florida: Key West -- Heritage Kitchen: Living the Legacy -- State of Enchantment: Living the Writer's Life in Florida -- Florida's Smallest Post Office -- Writers on Writing -- Meet the Florida Book Award Winners -- Bridging the Gulf -- Literary Footsteps: Marjory's Journey -- Say it out Loud -- Stormy Florida: Years of Quiet, Years of Destruction -- 1811: What we Know about the Storm …

Commencement Convocation Program, St. Petersburg Campus, August 5, 2018, University Of South Florida St. Petersburg

USF St. Petersburg Graduations and Commencements

No abstract provided.

Commencement Convocation Program, Usf, August 4, 2018, University Of South Florida

USF Graduation and Convocation Programs

King O'Neal Scholars - Katlyn Eastridge, James Garrett, Gautam Krishna Koipallil, Kayla Li, and Olivia Taylor; Outstanding Graduate - Barbora Skopalova; Global Citizens Award - Kayla Li, Phoung Ly, and Hannah Seamans

Factors Associated With Willingness To Enter Long-Term Care Facilities Among Older Adults In Chengdu, China, Ziyue Huang, Qingyue Liu, Hongdao Meng, Dangping Liu, Debra Dobbs, Kathryn Hyer, Kyaien O. Conner

Aging Studies Faculty Publications

Objective: To describe Chinese older adults’ willingness to enter long-term care facilities and to examine individual factors associated with the willingness of using this growing model of long-term care in China.

Methods: A cross-sectional study involving a random sample of 670 adults aged 60+ in the Hezuo community in Chengdu, China in 2016. Respondents were interviewed by trained staff on socio-demographics, health status, quality of life, social support, and willingness to enter long-term care facilities.

Results: Only 11.9% of the respondents were willing to enter long-term care facilities for meeting their medical and social service needs. Multivariable logistic regression analysis …

Broadening The Lens: A Systems Approach To Nursing Home Quality Improvement, Kelly M. Smith

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The National Quality Award Program, sponsored by the American Healthcare Association National Center for Assisted Living, was implemented to cultivate continuous quality improvement in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Based upon the Baldridge Criteria for Performance Excellence, the program utilizes a systems-based or Big “Q” approach to quality and requires applicants to examine seven categories of their organizational environment including: 1) leadership, 2) strategy, 3) customers, 4) measurement, analysis, and knowledge management, 5) workforce, 6) operations, and 7) results. The subsequent dissertation examines whether award status is associated with better performance on publicly reported quality measures and financial performance …

Evaluating The Influence Of Time Of Day On Activity Engagement In Persons With Dementia, Darienne E. Boyden

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Dementia is a serious disease affecting a growing number of people. With the onset of dementia comes a decline in social activity engagement which can negatively impact multiple aspects of a person’s life. Research suggests that time of day may influence activity engagement of a person with dementia, but such research is limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of time of day on engagement in activities in persons diagnosed with dementia. The secondary purpose of this study was to assess the validity of preference assessments in individuals diagnosed with dementia and determine if low preference …

Mobility And Vitality Lifestyle Program (Move Up): A Community Health Worker Intervention For Older Adults With Obesity To Improve Weight, Health, And Physical Function, Elizabeth M. Venditti, Janice C. Zgibor, Joni Vander Bilt, Lori A. Kieffer, Robert M. Boudreau, Lora E. Burke, Nancy W. Glynn, John M. Jakicic, Kenneth J. Smith

Epidemiology and Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Background and Objectives: Obesity rates in adults ≥65 years have increased more than other age groups in the last decade, elevating risk for chronic disease and poor physical function, particularly in underserved racial and ethnic minorities. Effective, sustainable lifestyle interventions are needed to help community-based older adults prevent or delay mobility disability. Design, baseline recruitment, and implementation features of the Mobility and Vitality Lifestyle Program (MOVE UP) study are reported.

Research Design and Methods: MOVE UP aimed to recruit 26 intervention sites in underserved areas around Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and train a similar number of community health workers to deliver …

Commencement Convocation Program, St. Petersburg Campus, May 6, 2018, University Of South Florida St. Petersburg

USF St. Petersburg Graduations and Commencements

King O'Neal Award: Catherine Taunton, Daniel Adams; Outstanding Graduate: Alexandra Kuchta