Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of Artificial Sweeteners In Chewing Gum, Helpful Or Harmful?, Taylor Rue, Emily Liebe

Dental Hygiene Student Scholarship

Objective/Aims: This review of literature was designed to analyze the effects of artificial sweeteners in chewing gum in the oral cavity. The intent was to recognize which formulations of artificial sweeteners in chewing gum lead to beneficial outcomes in the oral cavity and which formulations lead to harmful effects.

Methods: The review of literature analyzed the conclusions of primary and secondary resources accumulated from PubMed. Multiple scholarly studies were filtered based upon meta-analysis, cross-sectional, and cohort studies. The following key terms were used: artificial sweetener, chewing gum, plaque, saliva, microbes, and oral health. A summative report was created based upon …

Untapped Potential Of Clinical Text For Opioid Surveillance, Amy L. Olex, Tamas Gal, Majid Afshar, Dmitriy Dligach, Niranjan Karnik, Travis Oakes, Brihat Sharma, Meng Xie, Bridget T. Mcinnes, Julian Solway, Abel Kho, William Cramer, F. Gerard Moeller

Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research Works

Accurate surveillance is needed to combat the growing opioid epidemic. To investigate the potential volume of missed opioid overdoses, we compare overdose encounters identified by ICD-10-CM codes and an NLP pipeline from two different medical systems. Our results show that the NLP pipeline identified a larger percentage of OOD encounters than ICD-10-CM codes. Thus, incorporating sophisticated NLP techniques into current diagnostic methods has the potential to improve surveillance on the incidence of opioid overdoses.

Vcu Service-Learning Impact Measure (Slim) Report, 2018-2019, Tamanna Sohal, Katie Elliott

Division of Community Engagement Resources

The VCU Service-Learning Office distributes the Service-Learning Impact Measure (SLIM) at the end of every semester to evaluate the impact of service-learning classes on student learning. Results are used to guide program improvements that enhance the quality of service-learning courses and outcomes for students, faculty, and partners.

“Calling Out” In Class: Degrees Of Candidness In Addressing Social Injustices In Racially Homogenous And Heterogeneous U.S. History Classrooms, Hillary Parkhouse, Virginia R. Massaro

Teaching and Learning Publications

Teaching for social justice requires an ability to address sensitive issues such as racism and sexism so that students can gain critical consciousness of these pervasive social realities. However, the empirical literature thus far provides minimal exploration of the factors teachers consider in deciding how to address these issues. This study explores this question through ethnographic case studies of two urban, 11th grade U.S. History classrooms. Differing classroom racial demographics and teacher instructional goals resulted in two distinct pedagogical approaches to social justice teaching. Despite differences in class makeup and teaching approach, students in both classrooms developed intellectual confidence and …

Identifying Attrition Phases In Survey Data: Applicability And Assessment Study, Camille J. Hochheimer, Roy T. Sabo, Robert A. Perera, Nitai Mukhopadhyay, Alex H. Krist

Biostatistics Publications

Background: Although Web-based questionnaires are an efficient, increasingly popular mode of data collection, their utility is often challenged by high participant dropout. Researchers can gain insight into potential causes of high participant dropout by analyzing the dropout patterns.

Objective: This study proposed the application of and assessed the use of user-specified and existing hypothesis testing methods in a novel setting—survey dropout data—to identify phases of higher or lower survey dropout.

Methods: First, we proposed the application of user-specified thresholds to identify abrupt differences in the dropout rate. Second, we proposed the application of 2 existing hypothesis testing methods to detect …

Sexual Assault & Alcohol Consumption In First- And Non-First-Generation College Students, Claire Luce, Laura E. T. Swan, Danielle M. Dick, Karen Chartier

Social Work Publications

Studies show the connection between experiences of sexual assault and increased alcohol consumption, but there is limited research about how sexual assault affects alcohol use in sub-populations, such as first-generation college students, who experience significant stress but often have limited resources devoted to meeting their needs. We hypothesize that: (1) college students who report experiencing recent sexual assault will report consuming more alcohol than students who do not report sexual assault; and (2) college-generation status will have a moderating effect on this relationship. Data were from a longitudinal study on substance use and behavioral health by students at a large, …

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 96, No. 2, 2019)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 96, No. 4, 2019)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Patients’ Perceptions Of Relative Importance Of Discharge Elements (Pride) Study, Nargiza Kurbanova

Health Sciences Education Symposium

Background:

• Almost 20% of patients experience potentially preventable adverse events within 30 days of hospital discharge (Forster, et al, 2003).
• The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality recommends structured and patient-centered discharge communication to prevent adverse events post-discharge (2018).
• The Joint Commission mandates information that must be included in all discharge communication including reason for hospitalization, significant findings, procedures and treatment provided, patient's discharge condition, patient and family instructions, and attending physician signature (Horwitz, et al, 2013).
• There is limited data suggesting how healthcare providers believe discharge communication should be prioritized.
• Blaine, et al, 2018 cites "Discharge Education/Teach-back" and "Involve …

Relationship Between Sexuality And Alcohol Consumption And Habits, Andersen Marino, Bethany Coston Phd

IRBEH/Spit for Science Publications and Presentations

Sexuality has historically been shown to have a relationship to people’s relationship to alcohol, though old research did not offer enough of a randomized sample. Feelings of internalized heterosexism and school climate have been shown to have an effect on these habits. At VCU, using the Spit for Science data, alcohol use and abuse between straight and gay/lesbian students did not show a significant difference. There was an effect for besexual and queer+ students.

Gender And Ethnic Differences In Sound Tolerance, Nicole Concepcion, Rachel Wallace Ms, Scott Vrana Phd, Lcp

IRBEH/Spit for Science Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Examining Sex Differences In The Association Between A Partner's Antisocial Behavior And One's Own Substance Use, Jasmine R. Jones, Jessica E. Salvatore Phd, Rebecca L. Smith Phd, Msw, Amy Adkins Phd

IRBEH/Spit for Science Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Cannabis And Tobacco Use Behaviors Among African American College Students, Gabrielle Dunston, Omobukola Usidame Phd, Mignonne C. Guy Phd

IRBEH/Spit for Science Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Examination Of The Relations Among Demographics, Pre-College Interpersonal Trauma, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder And Disordered Eating, Arin L. Larsen, Kaitlin Bountress Phd, Ananda B. Amstadter Phd

IRBEH/Spit for Science Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Is There An Association Between Social Support And Substance Use In College Students?, Emily Ramos, Elizabeth Prom-Wormley Phd

IRBEH/Spit for Science Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Pharmaceutical Industry's Effect On Socioeconomic Development In Sub-Saharan Africa In Relation To Family Planning Accessibility, Tessa Demarest

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

There is a large unmet need for family planning services in sub-Saharan Africa (Goodkind et al, 2018). Pharmaceutical companies contribute to the accessibility of medications in developing countries (Cottingham & Berer, 2011). If the pharmaceutical industry strongly affects access to contraceptives in sub-Saharan Africa, then it is possible that adjustments made to the industry would increase access to contraceptives. I explored how contraceptives change the economic and social development of subSaharan Africa to determine if contraception benefits Africans enough for their shortage to be a serious injustice. This is followed by how the pharmaceutical industry affects access to and types …

Impulsivity Of Sexual Trauma Survivors And Their Use Of Alcohol And Substances, Kayla Mclean, Jasmin Vassileva Phd

IRBEH/Spit for Science Publications and Presentations

The current study investigates the associations of neurocognitive ‘choice’ impulsivity (delay discounting) and personality ‘trait’ impulsivity (UPPS) with alcohol and substance use among college students reporting history of sexual trauma. Spit For Science data was used as the sample, specifically looking at cohort Y5(N=2476). A bivariate correlation was used to compare different substances and alcohol use to different facets of the UPPS trait impulsivity and correlations were used to measure the relationship between different levels of delay discounting (small, medium, large, overall) with alcohol and substance use among students reporting history of sexual trauma.

Rubin Peacock: 50 Years Of Bronze Sculpture, Rubin Peacock

Books and Book Chapters

“Rubin Peacock: 50 Years of Bronze Sculpture” is an autobiographical account of Peacock’s career as a sculptor, tracing the enduring influences of his Native American ancestry, upbringing in the rural South, and educational experiences abroad.

Characterization Of Protein Involved In Hemolysis Expressed By Sneathia Amnii, A Pathogen Of The Female Urogenital Tract, Gabriella Gentile, Lizette Carrasco, Amy Stanford, Kimberly Jefferson

Graduate Research Posters

Sneathia amnii is a poorly characterized gram-negative anaerobe that commonly colonizes the vagina. It has been linked to many obstetric disorders, including preterm labor, preeclampsia, and chorioamnionitis. S. amnii lyses human red blood cells, and we aimed to identify the hemolysin. We identified two genes that appear to encode transporter and effector components of a two-partner secretion system. The putative effector, which we refer to as SaFHA, contains a domain with amino acid similarity to the filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) of Bordetella pertussis and its predicted structure suggests it may form a transmembrane channel or pore. Thus, we hypothesized that SaFHA …

Evaluation Of A New Trauma-Related Drinking To Cope Measure: Latent Structure And Heritability, Sage E. Hawn, Steven H. Aggen, Danielle Dick, Ananda B. Amstadter Phd

Graduate Research Posters

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) commonly co-occur, share latent genetic risk, and are associated with many negative public health outcomes. Via a self-medication framework, trauma-related drinking to cope (TRD), an unexplored phenotype to date, may help explain why these two disorders co-occur, thus serving as an essential target for treatment and prevention efforts. This study sought to create a novel measure of TRD and to investigate its indirect influences on the association between PTSD and AUD, as well as its potential shared molecular genetic risk with PTSD in a genetically-informative study of college students. A sample …

Impact Of Socialization In Elderly Public-Housing Residents, Taylor M. Wilkerson, Schanea Ward, Amy Popovich, Pamela Parsons, Faika Zanjani

Graduate Research Posters

Older adults who experience social isolation have higher rates of mortality relative to their counterparts. Social interactions are an important way to combat this isolation. This research aims to better understand how social isolation in older adults living in low-income households in Richmond, Virginia (RVA) is related to their economic, physical, and psychological health status. As part of the iCubed Health and Wellness Aging Core and in collaboration with the Richmond Memorial: East End Housing Coalition for Older Adults, older adults from a selected public housing unit (n=28) self-reported their financial status, experiences with physical and psycho-social health, and feelings …

The Impact Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder On Peripheral Vascular Function, Jennifer B. Weggen, Kevin P. Decker, Ryan S. Garten

Graduate Research Posters

The physiological manifestations of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been associated with an increase in risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) independent of negative lifestyle factors. Peripheral vascular dysfunction may be a mechanism by which PTSD increases CVD risk via increases in oxidative stress, inflammation, and/or sympathetic nervous system activity. PURPOSE: This study sought to examine peripheral vascular function in those with PTSD compared to age-matched controls. METHODS: Eight individuals with PTSD (5 women, 3 men; age 22 ± 2 years), and sixteen healthy controls (CON; 10 women, 6 men, 23 ± 2 years), participated in the study. Leg vascular function …

Weight Loss And Self-Monitoring Among Young Men In A Technology-Driven Weight Loss Intervention, Jean M. Reading, Jessica G. Larose

Graduate Research Posters

Background

Young men with obesity have double the mortality risk compared to young men with a healthy weight, but are notoriously challenging to recruit for behavioral weight loss (BWL) programs. Emerging evidence suggests that young men might prefer self-guided or low touch interventions, but limited data are available as to their effectiveness. To inform future efforts, we conducted a secondary analysis of young men’s performance in a technology-driven BWL trial developed specifically for young adults. Objectives were to: 1) examine young men’s enrollment rates; and 2) compare young men and women’s weight loss outcomes and self-regulation behaviors.

Methods

Data were …

Molecular And Behavioral Mechanisms Mediating Paclitaxel-Induced Changes In Affect-Like Behavior In Mice, Julia Meade, Yasmin Alkhlaif, Wisam B. Toma, Samuel Obeng, Dana E. Selley, Imad Damaj

Graduate Research Posters

The antineoplastic paclitaxel is associated with negative affective outcomes, such as depression, anxiety, and decreased quality of life during treatment and convalescence. With the Baby Boomer population approaching peak cancer age, it is dire that the mechanisms behind paclitaxel-induced changes in mood are uncovered. Cancer-free male and female C57BL/6J mice were treated with one set of four injections of vehicle or paclitaxel (32mg/kg cumulative), or two sets of four injections of vehicle or paclitaxel (64mg/kg cumulative), and periodically assessed for depression-like behaviors. Paclitaxel caused significant, time-dependent deficits in sucrose preference and operant responding for palatable food. Because there is growing …

Mind Your Meds: Safe Opioid Disposal Awareness, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute At Virginia Commonwealth University, Mary Ann Davies, Jenny Fox, Kenneth Johnson, Jennifer Papenfuse, Michelle Schmitt, Shijun Zhang, Lori Zoghby

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

Driven by the effects of the opioid epidemic on friends, family members, students, and patients, members of the 2019 GEHLI Team “Mission Possible” are dedicated to bolstering educational awareness of safe leftover opioid disposal methods to decrease the supply of opioids in our community. On average, over 2/3 of opioid prescription medications are leftover and lead to later misuse or abuse (JAMA Survey). Despite a decrease in prescription writing for pain medication over the years, the mortality rate from overdose, and the rate of infants born to mothers with opioid abuse continues to steadily increase in Virginia (VDH). Team Mission …

Trans-Inclusive Design, Erin White

VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications

The choices web designers make impact the online and offline experiences of real people who are transgender, non-binary, or gender-variant—choices that can affirm or exclude, uplift or annoy, help or harm. This article shines light on the decisions web professionals make every day and offers specific ideas for how to make content, images, forms, databases, IA, privacy, and algorithms trans-inclusive.

The Association Between Discrimination And Sleep Is Exacerbated In Individuals With Comorbid Chronic Health Conditions, Sarah M. Ghose, Natalie D. Dautovich, Joseph M. Dzierzewski, Sahar M. Sabet, Janna L. Imel, Dana R. Schreiber, Ashley R. Macpherson, Morgan P. Reid

Graduate Research Posters

Introduction: The consequences of recurrent, stressful daily experiences for sleep health appear intensified in individuals with pre-existing health conditions. Although discrimination has been associated with sleep outcomes, the role of comorbid chronic health conditions (CCHCs), and impact of perceived discrimination, remains unclear. The present study investigated (1) the associations between daily discrimination and sleep and (2) moderating roles of CCHCs and daily life interference and hardship.

Methods: The current study utilized archival data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Study II. Participants, 174 adults (51% female, M_age=57 yrs., SD=11.5 yrs.), completed 7 days of actigraphy, …

Medications And Patient Safety In The Trauma Setting: A Systematic Review, Jonathan H. Deantonio, Tammy Nguyen, Gregory Chenault, Michel B. Aboutanos, Rahul J. Anand, Paula Ferrada, Stephanie Goldberg, Stefan W. Leichtle, Levi D. Procter, Edgar B. Rodas, Alan P. Rossi, James F. Whelan, V. Ramana Freeser, Michael J. Vitto, Beth Broering, Sarah Hobgood, Martin Mangino, Dayanjan S. Wijesinghe, Sudha Jayaraman

Surgery Publications

Background: Medication errors account for the most common adverse events and a significant cause of mortality in the USA. The Joint Commission has required medication reconciliation since 2006. We aimed to survey the literature and determine the challenges and effectiveness of medication reconciliation in the trauma patient population.


Materials and methods: We conducted a systematic review of the literature to determine the effectiveness of medication reconciliation in trauma patients. English language articles were retrieved from PubMed/Medline, CINAHL, and Cochrane Review databases with search terms “trauma OR injury, AND medication reconciliation OR med rec OR med rek, AND effectiveness OR …

The Context Of African American Emotion Expression: College Campus Influences, Deon Brown

Theses and Dissertations

Theoretical frameworks suggest that African Americans express emotion in context-specific ways that are unique to their familial socialization experience (Boykin, 1986; Dunbar, Leerkes, Coard, Supple, & Calkins, 2017). However, less is known about how African Americans express emotion across familial and public contexts. The current study was interested in exploring the contextual differences in emotion expression among 188 African American/Black college students from 3 different types of college campuses: predominantly White (i.e., PWI), historically Black (i.e., HBCU), and racially diverse. Data were collected via an online survey in which students reported the school they attend, their emotion expression in the …

Applications Of Chemically Modified Nitrogen Doped Carbon, Zirconium Phosphate, Metal Organic Frameworks, And Functionalized Graphene Oxide Nanostructured Adsorbents In Water Treatment, Ayyob Mohammed A Bakry

Theses and Dissertations

Water contaminations by many pollutants, especially heavy metals such as Pb(II), Hg(II), Cu(II), Cd(II), and Cr(VI) pose many public health and environmental concerns as reported in the list of hazardous substances compiled by the US Environmental Protection Agency due to their high toxicity, refractory degradation, and ease of entering food chain. Adsorption by chelating resins is proven to be the most effective method for the extraction of metal ions from polluted and wastewater. However, traditional absorbents such as activated carbon, activated alumina, clay, zeolite, etc., show limited adsorption abilities for these heavy metal ions. The major goal of this thesis …