Digital Commons Network^™

Measuring Lead Concentrations Of Vacant Lots In The Tree Street Neighborhood Of Lewiston, Me, Adam Gardner, Erin O'Farrell, Julian Cook

Community Engaged Research Reports

High levels of lead contamination have detrimental health implications for communities, with the most profound impacts of lead poisoning affecting young children. The City of Lewiston, Maine, is home to a disproportionate amount of reported lead poisoning cases as compared to the rest of the state. Within Lewiston, the downtown “Tree Street” neighborhood contains 72% of all reported lead-poisoning cases in the city, signifying a need to identify the source(s) of lead exposure and minimize the impact of lead contamination on Tree Street residents. In collaboration with Healthy Neighborhoods, we identified 19 vacant lots in the Tree Street neighborhood to …

Expression Vs. Expectation: A Look Into Patients' Perspectives On Professional Appearance In Physical, Speech Or Occupational Therapists With And Without Body Art, Catherine Joy Swedlund

Honors College

Objective: This study evaluated perceptions of professional appearance in tattooed versus non-tattooed therapists in a healthcare setting by surveying a cohort of students from a Christian-associated university.

Background: The popularity of tattoos among young adults in America is becoming increasingly popular. Research, however, informs us that although popularity has increased, perceptions of tattoos are still associated with negative feelings and perceptions in the workplace and in religious contexts. Culturally, in America, tattoos are associated with a lower socioeconomic status and education level. Additionally, women with tattoos tend to be judged more harshly, with more perceptions of deviant behavior compared to …

Impact Of Project Echo Models Of Medical Tele-Education: A Systematic Review, Ryan K. Mcbain, Jessica L. Sousa, Adam J. Rose, Sangita M. Baxi, Laura J. Faherty, Caroline Taplin, Andre Chappel, Shira H. Fischer

Project ECHO Bibliography

BACKGROUND: Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) and related models of medical tele-education are rapidly expanding; however, their effectiveness remains unclear. This systematic review examines the effectiveness of ECHO and ECHO-like medical tele-education models of healthcare delivery in terms of improved provider- and patient-related outcomes.

METHODS: We searched English-language studies in PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO databases from 1 January 2007 to 1 December 2018 as well as bibliography review. Two reviewers independently screened citations for peer-reviewed publications reporting provider- and/or patient-related outcomes of technology-enabled collaborative learning models that satisfied six criteria of the ECHO framework. Reviewers then independently abstracted data, …

Role Of Arginine And/Or Taurine In Protection Against Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity In Male And Female Rats, Amal H. Emara, Wafaa M. Ismaeil

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Background As a highly effective antibiotic, gentamicin is used in the treatment of serious and life-threatening gram-negative infections. L-arginine (2-amino-5-guanidino-pentanoic acid) has a protective role on renal failure that induced by gentamicin administration and it may decrease the tubular reabsorption of another cationic substance, gentamicin due to its cationic structure. The aim of this study is to determine the influence of gender on nephroprotective effects of L-arginine (Arg) and/or taurine (Tau) on gentamicin (G) induced nephrotoxicity. Methods Adult Sprague-Dawley albino rats of both sexes (150-200 g, 48 male and 48 female), were bred from the animal unit of National Nutrition …

One-Year Angiographic Results Of Left Anterior Descending Bypass Using Internal Mammary Artery: A Series Of 48 Consecutive Patients, Ahmed S. Mahlab

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

The left internal mammary artery (LIMA) has been used as a conduit for coronary artery revascularization since 1968. Here we are reporting A total of 48 consecutive patients were operated upon using double mammary arteries. All of them received a mammary graft to the left anterior descending artery (LAD). All 48 of them were controlled angiographically at 1 year postoperative to ensure satisfactory well-functioning grafts.

Nursing And Midwifery Links [December 2019 Issue], Secretariat At Johns Hopkins University School Of Nursing Global Network Of Who Collaborating Centers For Nursing And Midwifery

Nursing and Midwifery Links (LINKS)

In this edition of the Links Magazine, we highlight the current issues, research, innovations, and perspectives of these institutions around palliative care. We recognize the importance of this human right and the role nurses and midwives have in advancing care for those in need of palliative health services. As is made evident in this publication, there are important areas where timely, evidence-based, and strategic efforts are needed to ensure that individuals are effectively cared for across the lifespan and varying levels of health and wellness. By promoting awareness and collaboration around this global health priority, we can ensure a healthier …

Full Issue - Winter 11(3) Winter: Special Issue: Integrating International Students In Local (Student) Communities: A Theory-To-Practice Perspective

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Higher Education Regionalization In The Northern Triangle Of Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador And Honduras, Jermain Griffin, Lisbeth R. Gall

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

An Open-Label Prospective Observational Trial For Assessing The Effect Of Homoeopathic Medicines In Patients Suffering From Gout, Sangita Saha, Sarkar Paulami, Rajat Chattopadhyay, Subhranil Saha

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

Background: Gout is an inflammatory arthritis associated with hyperuricaemia and intra-articular monosodium urate crystals, resulting in pain, activity limitation, disability and impact on patients' quality of life. Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the effects of individualised homoeopathic medicines in serum uric acid level and quality of life in patients suffering from gout. Methods: A prospective, single-arm, non-randomised, open-label, observational trial was conducted on 32 adults suffering from gout (diagnosed as per the American College of Rheumatology–European League Against Rheumatism gout classification criteria) at the Outpatient Department of The Calcutta Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. Serum …

Imc Policy Platform, Yoselinne Gonzalez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Unit is an administrative branch of the Monterey County Health Department (MCHD). The strategic goals of the MCHD are to empower the community to improve health, enhance public health through prevention, ensure equitable and culturally competent access to services and engage employees to meet the county’s health needs. One way in which the MCHD is able to achieve its goals is by being a collaborative partner of Impact Monterey County (IMC). IMC is a collaborative network of nonprofits, businesses, public agencies and the community working together to create a healthy, safe, thriving Monterey County by …

Obesity In Monterey County, Ruth Gamino

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Obesity has become a concerning health issue within the United States. In Monterey County, obesity is becoming an epidemic among children. In Monterey County in 2015, 48 percent of 7th graders were obese in comparison with 38.7 percent in California overall (Kids Data, 2015). Youth Fit 4 Life (YF4L) is a research-tested intervention program that shares a passion for improving the health of children by promoting healthy habits. The purpose of the program is to address childhood obesity and the psychological issues linked to it. After realizing the obstacles that staff were facing, it was important to create a website …

Community Health Workers On Oral Health: Raising Awareness, Zuleyma Valdez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The Monterey County Oral Health Program (MCOHP) is a program funded through the California Department of Public Health’s Oral Health Program that was made possible by the State’s $2 tobacco tax, Prop 56. The goal of the MCOHP is to address the oral health needs of the Monterey County community through prevention, education, and organized community efforts. In Monterey County, the rates of tooth decay among children are too high. The high rates are due to untreated tooth decay. According to the California Department of Public Health (2017), “Tooth decay is the most chronic condition experienced by children-far more than …

Supporting Healthier Eating Habits For Monterey County Employees, Brenda M. Ortiz

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The Health Promotion Partnership, known as the Monterey County Employee Wellness Program, is committed to the development of programs, services and policy relating to healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco cessation, stress management, overall health, parenting, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. In Monterey County, over half all adults are overweight or obese. Food deserts coupled with lack of knowledge around health concerns that can develop from unhealthy foods, place residents and its employees at an increased risk to become overweight or obese. Some of the most severe consequences of being overweight or obese is the increased risk of developing chronic diseases such as …

Fraud Prevention For Seniors, Claudia Rodriguez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The senior population has been a target for fraudulent crimes. The determined contributing factors for the senior population being susceptible to fraud is being gullible, lacking knowledge of strategies to prevent fraud, and having cognitive decline due to aging. Fraudulent crimes can have major consequences such as, monetary cost, negative effects on health and unreported cases. Fraudulent crimes against seniors is a growing issue and must be addressed. In order to address this issue within the community a capstone project was developed and implemented in collaboration with the Monterey County District Attorney's Office of Consumerism and Environmental Protection Division. This …

Globalizing Sustainable Education: Environmental Literacy Connecting Cultural Literacy, Sofia Maciel

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This Capstone project aims to increase the integration of both a sustainable and globalized education. This is an important issue for students and teachers worldwide because without a more globalized and environmentally aware educational focus in schools, there will be little to no improvement in the suffering and changing climate of the planet. It is argued that after decades of neglect, nations are finally becoming aware that the natural health of the earth is in a delicate state. We are all stakeholders facing the risk of environmental dangers, but for this project the focus is on teachers and students. These …

Comparison Of The U.S. And Finland’S Educational Systems On Students’ Academic Achievement, Selma Matias

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This senior capstone research project compares Finland’s and the U.S.’ educational system through the use of literature review. In the U.S., after the passage of No Child Left Behind legislation, schools focus more on preparing students for test-taking rather than on what students may need to learn; whereas in Finland, their educational system focuses more on “teaching less, learning more,” meaning that Finland focuses more on what students may want to learn.The finding reveals that, both the U.S. and Findland have designed their own system of education to meet the needs of their students. If the United States wants to …

Reducing Recidivism Rates, Oscar Padilla

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This main purpose of the project is to support Santa Cruz County to reduce recidivism rates. Defining recidivism from the county's perspective and discussing the factors that contribute to recidivism helps to understand the problem this project seeks to address. A discussion of the consequences of high recidivism rates helps the community understand why something must be done. AB 109 is an important bill that impacts this population in Santa Cruz county allowing for innovative solutions to be implemented. With AB109 funding a new service center was created to serve this population. The Santa Cruz Probation Service Center (PSC) opened …

Increasing Parents' Knowledge Of A Healthy Lifestyle For Children With Down Syndrome, Celeste Villagrana

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Maintaining a healthy diet is a struggle for the general US population, and it is a particular problem for the special needs population. Children with Down Syndrome have higher rates of obesity than the general population. One reason for this is that their metabolic rate tends to be slower than that of the general population (Magge et al., 2008). Also, they have a genetic predisposition for leptin resistance. Therefore, it is important that these children eat healthy meals and be physically active on a daily basis. For my capstone project, I presented a workshop to parents of children with Down …

Convergence Of Human And Old World Monkey Gut Microbiomes Demonstrates The Importance Of Human Ecology Over Phylogeny, Katherine R. Amato, Elizabeth K. Mallott, Daniel Mcdonald, Nathaniel J. Dominy, Tony Goldberg, Joanna E. Lambert, Larissa Swedell, Jessica L. Metcalf, Andres Gomez, Gillian A. O. Britton, Rebecca M. Stumpf, Steven R. Leigh, Rob Knight

Publications and Research

Background

Comparative data from non-human primates provide insight into the processes that shaped the evolution of the human gut microbiome and highlight microbiome traits that differentiate humans from other primates. Here, in an effort to improve our understanding of the human microbiome, we compare gut microbiome composition and functional potential in 14 populations of humans from ten nations and 18 species of wild, non-human primates.

Results

Contrary to expectations from host phylogenetics, we find that human gut microbiome composition and functional potential are more similar to those of cercopithecines, a subfamily of Old World monkey, particularly baboons, than to those …

Feasibility And Acceptability Of A Rural, Pragmatic, Telemedicine‐ Delivered Healthy Lifestyle Programme, John A. Batsis, Auden C. Mcclure, Aaron B. Weintraub, David F. Kotz, Sivan Rotenberg, Summer B. Cook, Diane Gilbert-Diamond, Kevin Curtis, Courtney J. Stevens, Diane Sette, Richard I. Rothstein

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background: The public health crisis of obesity leads to increasing morbidity that are even more profound in certain populations such as rural adults. Live, two‐way video‐conferencing is a modality that can potentially surmount geographic barriers and staffing shortages. Methods: Patients from the Dartmouth‐Hitchcock Weight and Wellness Center were recruited into a pragmatic, single‐arm, nonrandomized study of a remotely delivered 16‐week evidence‐based healthy lifestyle programme. Patients were provided hardware and appropriate software allowing for remote participation in all sessions, outside of the clinic setting. Our primary outcomes were feasibility and acceptability of the telemedicine intervention, as well as potential effectiveness on …

Effects Of Infanticide Risk And Timber Harvest On American Black Bear Space Use, D. Cody Norton

All NMU Master's Theses

Space use is an important aspect of bear ecology that maybe influenced by infanticide risk and timber harvest. I used generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) to determine if female American black bear (Ursus americanus) space use was consistent with avoidance behavior to reduce infanticide risk in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan during the 2009–2011 and 2013–2014 breeding seasons. Females with cubs occupied core areas and home ranges of similar size and relative probability of male use to females without cubs. Additionally, females with cubs did not reduce movements during times of day when male movements were greatest. Female …

How Health Problems Affect Children's Anti-Social Behaviors And Their Attitudes Towards School, Prosper Kwame Mensah

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine how health impacts certain aspects of children’s educational experience. The study examined how health influences anti-social behaviors among children as well as their attitudes towards school. Children with health issues often experience disruptions in education leading to factors that impact their attitudes and behaviors towards school. The data for this study was taken from Health Behavior of School-Aged Children (HBSC), 2009-2010. The sample population consisted of 12,642 students. The files contained data on 12,642 students from 314 participating schools. Of the 314 participating schools a school administrator questionnaire was completed by 283 …

Structural Basis Of Amino Acid Surveillance By Higher-Order Trna-Mrna Interactions, Shuang Li, Zhaoming Su, Jean Lehmann, Vassiliki Stamatopoulou, Nikoleta Giarimoglou, Frances E Henderson, Lixin Fan, Grigore D Pintilie, Kaiming Zhang, Muyuan Chen, Steven J Ludtke, Yun-Xing Wang, Constantinos Stathopoulos, Wah Chiu, Jinwei Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Amino acid availability in Gram-positive bacteria is monitored by T-box riboswitches. T-boxes directly bind tRNAs, assess their aminoacylation state, and regulate the transcription or translation of downstream genes to maintain nutritional homeostasis. Here, we report cocrystal and cryo-EM structures of Geobacillus kaustophilus and Bacillus subtilis T-box-tRNA complexes, detailing their multivalent, exquisitely selective interactions. The T-box forms a U-shaped molecular vise that clamps the tRNA, captures its 3' end using an elaborate 'discriminator' structure, and interrogates its aminoacylation state using a steric filter fashioned from a wobble base pair. In the absence of aminoacylation, T-boxes clutch tRNAs and form a continuously …

Effects Of Vitamin D Status And Supplements On Anthropometric And Biochemical Indices In A Clinical Setting: A Retrospective Study, Myriam Abboud, Xiaoying Liu, Flavia Fayet-Moore, Kaye E. Brock, Dimitrios Papandreou, Tara C. Brennan-Speranza, Rebecca S. Mason

All Works

© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Context: Obesity and low vitamin D status are linked. It is not clear that weight loss through lifestyle intervention is influenced by vitamin D status. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of baseline vitamin D status and vitamin D supplementation on weight loss and associated parameters for participants on a weight loss program in a primary care setting. Design: A retrospective analysis of clinical records of patients who underwent an individually tailored weight loss program at a single dietetic clinic in Sydney, Australia. Setting: Primary care …

Maintaining Skeletal Muscle Through Eccentric Exercise After Bariatric Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Joshua Jed Kelley

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: To investigate the effects of eccentric exercise on lower body skeletal muscle mass during rapid body mass loss induced by bariatric surgery. Methods: All participants began 6 to 8 weeks after undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) or sleeve gastrectomy (SG). Skeletal muscle mass (SMM) in the lower body was measured via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); additional exercise measurements included muscular strength and functional capacity. Quality of life was measured using Short Form 36 (SF-36). Nineteen females (age = 37.6 ± 9.8 yr, height = 164.4 ± 7.2 cm, mass = 106.9 ± 15.6 kg) were randomly assigned to 1 …

Ucc Minutes, December 3, 2019, University Curriculum Council

UCC Agendas/Minutes

No abstract provided.

Closing The Opportunity Gap For Low-Income Urban Minority Students In Turnaround Schools, Cleophas Rodgers

Dissertations

As we prepare to address and stem many of the systemic racist policies that plague our low-income minority students, we have to remain diligent and innovative in our attempt to provide our low-income minority students, as early as pre-kindergarten, access to opportunities that will ultimately prepare them for post-secondary success. This study focuses on how accountability policies and expectations for turnaround schools have had a long-term impact on the type of opportunities students who attend these schools will ultimately have. This study also proposes two policies that work to not only increase opportunities for low-income urban minority students who attend …

Girls’ Experiences In A Positive Youth Development Sport Program: Developing A Participant-Centered Space, Kelly Johnston, Risto Marttinen, Ray Fredrick Iii, Vidya Bhat

Journal of Youth Development

School-age youth of low-income, urban communities frequently experience systemic inequities, such as limited access to healthy foods, lack of space for physical activity, higher drop-out rates, lower academic performance, and escalating rates of neighborhood violence. These inequities are often exacerbated for girls of color. After-school programs hold great potential for countering these issues, particularly when guided by a positive youth development (PYD) model. This qualitative study examined girls’ experiences in one after-school PYD program called REACH (Reflective Educational Approach to Character and Health). The authors discuss the ways in which the co-creation of a participant-centered space and interrelated connections between …

Self-Determination Through Circus Arts: Exploring Youth Development In A Novel Activity Context, Jennifer Agans, Jacqueline Davis, Spyridoula Vazou, Tal Jarus

Journal of Youth Development

Youth development takes place in many contexts, with different resulting participant outcomes. Broadening the scope of research to include non-traditional contexts such as youth circus arts programs, which are both similar to and different from other out-of-school-time contexts, may promote better understanding of the ways in which these programs impact youth development. The present study examined the prevalence of support for basic psychological needs and positive developmental outcomes among youth circus program participants. Single time-point quantitative surveys were completed by 111 youth members of the American Youth Circus Organization (62% female), ranging in age from 10 to 21. Results indicated …

Platelet-Rich Plasma Can Release Nutrient Factors To Promote Facial Nerve Crush Injury Recovery In Rats, Liheng Li, Jing Cai, Yang Yuan, Yanyan Mao, Lei Xu, Yuechen Han, Jianfeng Li, Haibo Wang

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on promoting neural repair after facial nerve compression in rats and the mechanism by which this occurs. Methods: Adult Wistar rats (n=100) were divided into 3 groups: healthy controls, surgery-only, and surgery+PRP groups. The rats underwent nerve crush injury to establish a facial palsy model. The blood from the rats was used to prepare the PRP for application to the injury site. The evaluation methods included vibrissae movement, eyelid closure, and electrophysiology. Electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to detect nutrient factor expression in the brain …