Digital Commons Network^™

The Application Of Poka-Yoke To Administration Functions Within An Organisation., Craig Dixon Woodward

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

Poka-yoke is a quality assurance technique developed by Shigeo Shingo in the 1960s. It is based on the theory that errors and defects have a cause and effect relationship. A defect is purely the effect of an error and by employing poka-yoke devices within processes to remove errors, defects can also be eliminated. The use of poka-yoke has made a significant contribution to organisations' ability to effectively control their core manufacturing processes but little attention has been given to the mistake-proofing of the surrounding administration or support processes. This thesis provides a definition of "administration" and justifies the need for …

Non-Invasive Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation For Neuromodulation, G. Darmani, T. O. Bergmann, Pauly K Butts, C. F. Caskey, Lecea L De, A. Fomenko, E. Fouragnan, W. Legon, K. R. Murphy, T. Nandi, M. A. Phipps, G. Pinton, H. Ramezanpour, J. Sallet, S. N. Yaakub, S. S. Yoo, R. Chen

School of Psychology

Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) holds great potential as a tool to alter neural circuits non-invasively in both animals and humans. In contrast to established non-invasive brain stimulation methods, ultrasonic waves can be focused on both cortical and deep brain targets with the unprecedented spatial resolution as small as a few cubic millimeters. This focusing allows exclusive targeting of small subcortical structures, previously accessible only by invasive deep brain stimulation devices. The neuromodulatory effects of TUS are likely derived from the kinetic interaction of the ultrasound waves with neuronal membranes and their constitutive mechanosensitive ion channels, to produce short term and …

Development And Validation Of The Short Version Of The Sense Of Humor Scale (Shs-S), Sonja Heintz, Willibald Ruch, Chloe Lau, Donald H. Saklofske, Paul Mcghee

School of Psychology

Abstract. Humor training has become increasingly popular to enhance the “sense of humor” and well-being and to decrease depressive symptoms. Despite the wide applications of these training programs, the assessment of training efficacy has attracted less attention. The Sense of Humor Scale (SHS; McGhee, 1996 , 1999 ) recently was expanded to a long version (SHS-L) to enhance its internal consistency ( Ruch & Heintz, 2018 ). At the same time, there is also the need for a brief version of this scale. The purpose of the present study is to develop a short version (SHS-S) in both German- and …

A Meeting Of Positive Behaviors: The Relations Of Three Aspects Of Flexibility With Character Strengths., Valentina Vylobkova, Sonja Heintz

School of Psychology

INTRODUCTION: The adaptation of own plans and behaviors to new circumstances seems to be a desirable personal quality in the modern world. it has been assumed that adaptability cannot be transferred to a single character strength. METHODS: The present research examines this assumption using typical and daily behaviors of three aspects of flexibility (predictability, adaptability and orderliness) and 24 character strengths across two studies (N1 = 283, N2 = 188). RESULTS: Flexibility showed a consistent and large overlap with character strengths. Adaptability was positively related to most of the strengths. Predictability was positively related to humility and prudence, and orderliness …

Mothers’ Understanding Of Brain Development In Early Childhood: A Qualitative Study In Brazil, Marina Sayuri Yakuwa, Letícia Pancieri, Sarah Neill, Mello Df De

School of Nursing and Midwifery

To analyze mothers’ understanding of child brain development and their stimulus practices with children in the first months of life. Qualitative research, with 18 Brazilian mothers, over 18 years of age, used semi-structured interviews to identify their perspectives on important healthcare outcomes, based on reflexive thematic analysis. Mother’s accounts displayed little understanding of child brain development, focusing on the development of neuropsychomotor skills. There was relative uncertainty about the daily care practices that would provide appropriate child stimuli, through which to provide promotion and protection of child development. Maternal knowledge about child brain development indicates a need to strengthen parenting …

Managing Business Relationships For Social Impact: Introduction To The Special Issue, Maciej Mitręga, Dariusz Siemieniako, Krzysztof Kubacki, Stefanos Mouzas

Plymouth Business School

No abstract provided.

Covid-19 Pandemic Impact On Psychotropic Prescribing For Adults With Intellectual Disability: An Observational Study In English Specialist Community Services, D Naqvi, B Perera, S Mitchell, R Sheehan, R Shankar

Peninsula Medical School

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a disproportionate impact on people with intellectual disability (PwID). PwID are at higher risk of mental illness and receive psychotropic prescribing ‘off licence' also, to manage distress behaviour. The lockdown and reduction of multidisciplinary face-to-face appointments had an impact on care delivery, the recourse possibly being psychotropic prescribing. It is imperative to comprehend the influence the pandemic had on psychotropic prescribing patterns to enable future planning. Aims The aim was to understand the impact of the pandemic by comparing psychotropic prescribing patterns during the England lockdown with the prescribing patterns before lockdown in …

General Practitioner Views On Addressing Weight Opportunistically In Primary Care: An Embedded Sequential Mixed-Methods Study, Maryam Kebbe, Susan A. Jebb, Rachna Begh, Anna Christian-Brown, Hannah Wheat, Amanda Farley, Amanda Lewis, Paul Aveyard

Peninsula Medical School

Objective: To assess GPs’ thoughts, feelings, and practices on providing opportunistic weight loss interventions before and after educational training and application in practice. Methods: In an embedded sequential mixed-methods design, 137 GPs delivered a 30-second brief opportunistic intervention to a mean of 14 patients with obesity. To assess GPs’ experiences and views on the intervention, all were invited to complete pre- and post-trial questionnaires and 18 were purposively interviewed. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using inductive framework analysis. Results: GPs’ attitudes (importance, feasibility, appropriateness, helpfulness, and effectiveness), capacities (comfort, confidence, and knowledge), perceived subjective norms (role expectations), willingness, and …

Nursing Students' Attitudes Towards Climate Change And Sustainability: A Cross-Sectional Multisite Study, Carmen Álvarez-Nieto, Janet Richardson, M. Ángeles Navarro-Perán, Naomi Tutticci, Norma Huss, Marie Elf, Anna Anåker, Jennie Aronsson, Heather Baid, Isabel M. López-Medina

School of Nursing and Midwifery

No abstract provided.

Real Talk: A Realist Dialogic Approach In A Realist Evaluation, Emilie Francis-Auton, Mitchell N. Sarkies, Chiara Pomare, Janet C. Long, Rebecca Hardwick, Hoa Mi Nguyen, Jeffrey Braithwaite

Peninsula Medical School

Realist evaluation is a method increasingly adopted to provide an understanding of how and why a program works, for whom, and under what circumstances. Initial program theories (IPT) are the crucial starting point of any realist evaluation, however descriptions about how they are developed in practice remain under-reported in the published literature. This article argues for the value of genuine research-group conversations using David Bohm’s concept of dialogue in realist research. We label it the realist dialogic approach. We draw out the relational qualities as well as the contextual circumstances of dialogue through our development of IPT and interview guides …

The Multi-Actor Perspective Of Engagement On Social Media, Sara Shawky, Krzysztof Kubacki, Timo Dietrich, Scott Weaven

Plymouth Business School

Despite the known benefits offered by social media to create engagement in social marketing programs, scholars have highlighted the need for more evidence-based, practical, and measurable approaches to social media use in social marketing contexts. This netnographic study employed a four-level multi-actor engagement framework originally proposed by Shawky et al. to explore engagement in a single Facebook community. We identified social media measurement tools for assessing connections, interactions, and loyalty of multiple actors which will assist social marketing practitioners’ understanding of different actors’ interactions with the social media content, enabling them to maintain these actors’ levels of engagement, advance their …

Self-Management Intervention To Reduce Pulmonary Exacerbations By Supporting Treatment Adherence In Adults With Cystic Fibrosis: A Randomised Controlled Trial, Cfhealthhub Study Team, Martin J. Wildman, Alicia O’Cathain, Chin Maguire, Madelynne A. Arden, Marlene Hutchings, Judy Bradley, Stephen J. Walters, Pauline Whelan, John Ainsworth, Iain Buchan, Laura Mandefield, Laura Sutton, Paul Tappenden, Rachel A. Elliott, Zhe Hui Hoo, Sarah J. Drabble, Daniel Beever, H. Cantrill, J. Nicholl, S. Michie, S. Waterhouse, L. Robinson, A. Scott, S. Antrobus, E. Lumley, A. N. Biz, D. Hind, C. Orchard

Peninsula Medical School

Introduction Recurrent pulmonary exacerbations lead to progressive lung damage in cystic fibrosis (CF). Inhaled medications (mucoactive agents and antibiotics) help prevent exacerbations, but objectively measured adherence is low. We investigated whether a multi-component (complex) self-management intervention to support adherence would reduce exacerbation rates over 12 months. Methods Between October 2017 and May 2018, adults with CF (aged ≥16 years; 19 UK centres) were randomised to the intervention (data-logging nebulisers, a digital platform and behavioural change sessions with trained clinical interventionists) or usual care (data-logging nebulisers). Outcomes included pulmonary exacerbations (primary outcome), objectively measured adherence, body mass index (BMI), lung function …

The Feasibility And Acceptability Of Digital Technology For Health And Wellbeing In Social Housing Residents In Cornwall: A Qualitative Scoping Study, Sa Buckingham, T Walker, K Morrissey

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Objective The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility and acceptability of digital technology for improving health and wellbeing in social housing residents living in a deprived area in Cornwall, England. Methods Qualitative scoping study with focus groups and telephone interviews (23 participants in total). Focus groups and interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Results Levels of use and experience with digital technology were diverse in this group, ranging from ‘willing and unable’ to ‘expert’ on a self-perceived scale. Overall, participants had positive perceptions of technology and were keen to try new technologies. Five categories of …

Fact Sheet, Yale University Office Of Institutional Research

Fact Sheets

No abstract provided.

Transactional Clinical Support For Mutual Aid Groups: Toward A Theory Of Transactional Movement Lawyering, Michael Haber

Hofstra Law Faculty Scholarship

In response to the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring and summer of 2020, thousands of grassroots, participatory, and often social movement-connected community efforts to help feed and care for one another through the crisis were launched, many of which identified their projects as 'mutual aid'. This article tells the story of how the Hofstra Law School Community Economic Development ("CED") Clinic has provided legal support and information to hundreds of these COVID-19 mutual aid groups. The article briefly reviews Professor Dean Spade's 2020 book Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the Next), contrasting it …

Wrongful Imprisonment And Coerced Moral Degradation, G. Alex Sinha, Janani Umamaheswar

Hofstra Law Faculty Scholarship

Despite the ever-growing number of exonerations in the U.S.— and the corresponding surge in scholarly interest in wrongful convictions in recent years—research on the carceral experiences of wrongfully-convicted persons remains strikingly limited. In this essay, we draw on in-depth interviews with 15 exonerated men to explore the moral dimensions of the experience of wrongful imprisonment. We argue that imprisonment entails what we refer to as “coerced moral degradation,” whereby innocent men’s self-preservation efforts in prison require them to feign being—and at times actually become— morally worse people. We argue that these findings speak to the fundamental question of what the …

A Precision Medicine Agenda In Traumatic Brain Injury, Jovany Cruz Navarro, Lucido L Ponce Mejia, Claudia Robertson

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Traumatic brain injury remains a leading cause of death and disability across the globe. Substantial uncertainty in outcome prediction continues to be the rule notwithstanding the existing prediction models. Additionally, despite very promising preclinical data, randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of neuroprotective strategies in moderate and severe TBI have failed to demonstrate significant treatment effects. Better predictive models are needed, as the existing validated ones are more useful in prognosticating poor outcome and do not include biomarkers, genomics, proteonomics, metabolomics, etc. Invasive neuromonitoring long believed to be a "game changer" in the care of TBI patients have shown mixed results, and …

How Do Digital Lives Affect Resident Mental Health In The Digital Era? Empirical Evidence Based On Chinese General Social Survey, Yan Chen, Mengyang Wei, Jaime Ortiz

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Having good mental health means we are better able to connect, function, cope and thrive. The widespread application of digital technology in daily life provides new ways and promising tools for residents to maintain their mental health. Given the importance of mental health for everyone, and the fact that mental health problems are prevalent worldwide, this study discusses how digital lives affects the mental health of residents. The results suggest that digital lives are significantly and positively associated with mental health. Mechanisms analysis identifies personal perceptions (self-rated physical exercise and subjective wellbeing) as the important paths for digital lives to …

Depression And Anxiety Are Common Among Patients With Cirrhosis, Ruben Hernaez, Jennifer R Kramer, Aisha Khan, Jessica Phillips, Katharine Mccallister, Kassie Chaffin, Adriana Portela Hernandez, Hannah Fullington, Cynthia Ortiz, James-Michael Blackwell, Adam Loewen, Yan Liu, Jasmin A Tiro, Simon C Lee, Amit G Singal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Depression and anxiety can have negative effects on patients and are important to treat. There have been few studies of their prevalence among patients with cirrhosis. We aimed to characterize the prevalence and risk factors for depression and anxiety in a large multi-center cohort of patients with cirrhosis.

METHODS: We conducted a telephone-based survey of patients with cirrhosis at 3 health systems in the United States (a tertiary-care referral center, a safety net system, and a Veterans hospital) from April through December 2018. Of 2871 patients approached, 1021 (35.6%) completed the survey. Depression and anxiety were assessed …

An Evidence-Based, Structured, Expert Approach To Selecting Essential Indicators Of Primary Care Quality, Sylvia J Hysong, Kelley Arredondo, Ashley M Hughes, Houston F Lester, Frederick L Oswald, Laura A Petersen, Lechauncy Woodard, Edward Post, Shelly Deperalta, Daniel R Murphy, Jason Mcknight, Karin Nelson, Paul Haidet

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this article is to illustrate the application of an evidence-based, structured performance measurement methodology to identify, prioritize, and (when appropriate) generate new measures of health care quality, using primary care as a case example. Primary health care is central to the health care system and health of the American public; thus, ensuring high quality is essential. Due to its complexity, ensuring high-quality primary care requires measurement frameworks that can assess the quality of the infrastructure, workforce configurations, and processes available. This paper describes the use of the Productivity Measurement and Enhancement System (ProMES) to compile a …

Racial/Ethnic Variations In Alcohol And Cigarette Use By Pregnancy Status Among 20- To 44-Year-Old Women, Nhanes 2001–2018, Jacqueline M Hirth, Catherine Valadez, Sandra Gonzalez, Alicia Kowalchuk, Judith A Gutierrez, Roger Zoorob

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVES: This study examines alcohol consumption and smoking behaviors by pregnancy status and race/ethnicity in order to inform improved interventions designed to assist women of all races to avoid alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy for their health and to prevent potential fetal exposure.

METHODS: This retrospective secondary data analysis utilized nationally representative National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data between 2001 and 2018. Smoking and alcohol use were evaluated by race/ethnicity and pregnancy risk. Sexual behavior, reproductive health, and prescription drug use determined pregnancy risk, categorized as low pregnancy risk, at risk of becoming pregnant, and pregnant. Binary and …

Cross-Sectional Survey Of Smoking Patterns During The Covid-19 Pandemic In A Tobacco Cessation And Lung Cancer Screening Program, Maria C Mejia, Roger Zoorob, Robert S Levine, Xiaofan Huang, Charles H Hennekens

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) produces a wide array of deleterious consequences, some of which are unintended. Data are sparse on whether, and if so, how, current cigarette smoking habits are affected by COVID-19. We describe changes to smoking habits and their correlates during the COVID-19 pandemic among participants in a tobacco cessation and lung cancer screening program.

Methods: Between June and October 2020, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of 150 participants in a lung cancer screening and tobacco cessation program. The survey consisted of 3 parts: (1) changes in tobacco use, (2) impact and coping …

Dataset: Knowledge And Attitude Retention Following An Implicit Bias Classroom Workshop, Yuanyuan Zhou, Joel Purkiss, Malvika Juneja, Jocelyn Greely, Anitra Beasley, Anne Gill

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Baylor College of Medicine provides a classroom-based implicit bias workshop to all third-year medical students to increase students’ awareness of their unconscious bias and develop strategies for reducing health care disparities. The workshop meets our immediate goals and objectives. However, we are unsure if the benefit would be long-term or diminish over time.

Methods: To examine the concept retention from the implicit bias classroom workshop, we administered a self-developed seven-item seven-point Likert-scale survey to our medical students at pre-, post-, and one-year post-workshop attendance.

Results: The data set was comprised of survey results from two cohorts of our third …

A Survey On Self-Medication For The Prevention Or Treatment Of Covid-19 And Distrust In Healthcare Of Veterans In A Primary Care Setting In The United States, Eva Amenta, Larissa Grigoryan, Laura Dillon, Casey Hines-Munson, John Van, Barbara Trautner

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic brought the public overwhelming and conflicting information. Rates of trust in healthcare professionals have been declining among laypersons over the past five decades. In this setting, we sought to evaluate the use of medications, both with or without a prescription, to prevent and treat SARS-CoV-2 as well as trust in healthcare among patients in a primary care clinic.

DESIGN: We surveyed 150 veterans in primary care clinic waiting rooms at a large southwestern tertiary care Veterans Affairs hospital. This survey was performed in March-November 2021.

METHODS: The survey asked about respondents' demographics, use of medications, …

Obesity And Asthma: A Focused Review, Rubabin Tooba, Tianshi David Wu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

The Lived Experiences Of Black Pastors And Their Self-Care, Tracy D. Metcalf

All Student Theses and Dissertations

Black pastors tend to carry the burden of the Black community, church, congregants, family, and their own personal struggles. How these individuals handle their experiences, stress, and self-care can assist them in creating a healthy life and work balance. There is limited literature on Black male pastors and their lived experiences and self-care practices. This study explored the lived experiences of Black male pastors and how it affects their self-care practices. This study utilized a phenomenological qualitative research design. This qualitative approach allows for the Black male pastor’s voice to be heard and documented. The findings of this study show …

Demographics, Strategies, Coursework, And Field Experiences On The Perceptions Of Preparedness Of Early Childhood Teachers To Teach Black Boys In Pre-K Through 3rd Grade Classrooms: The Impact, Kimberly S. Peterz

All Student Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative cross-sectional study examined the perceptions of preparedness of early childhood teachers to teach Black boys in Pre-K through 3rd grade classrooms. The purpose of this study was to understand if perceptions of preparedness of early childhood teachers differed based on age, race, location of teacher preparation program, and current teaching location. This study focused on specific demographics such as age and race from an anonymous sample of early childhood teachers (N=50) in the United States. Additionally, educational and professional characteristics such as location of teacher preparation institution and current teaching location were utilized. The personal, educational, and professional …

“I Have Nothing More To Give”: Disparities In Burnout And The Protective Role Of Immigrant Status During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Gene Chibuchim Otuonye, Nancy Shenoi, Tianshi David Wu, Kalpalatha Guntupalli, Nidal Moukaddam

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Burnout is an epidemic, with deleterious effects on individuals, patient care, and healthcare systems. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may be exacerbating this problem. We aimed to explore socio-cultural and gender norms that modulate burnout development in physicians during the pandemic and analyze any disparities associated with gender, marital and immigration status and work-life balance. We conducted an online cross-sectional survey of physicians (August-November, 2021): The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) was used to measure burnout, combined with a validated survey assessing work-life balance. Demographic data was obtained for each participant. MBI-HSS subscales were measured, along with work …

The Third International Hackathon For Applying Insights Into Large-Scale Genomic Composition To Use Cases In A Wide Range Of Organisms, Kimberly Walker, Divya Kalra, Rebecca Lowdon, Guangyi Chen, David Molik, Daniela C Soto, Fawaz Dabbaghie, Ahmad Al Khleifat, Medhat Mahmoud, Luis F Paulin, Muhammad Sohail Raza, Susanne P Pfeifer, Daniel Paiva Agustinho, Elbay Aliyev, Pavel Avdeyev, Enrico R Barrozo, Sairam Behera, Kimberley Billingsley, Li Chuin Chong, Deepak Choubey, Wouter De Coster, Yilei Fu, Alejandro R Gener, Timothy Hefferon, David Morgan Henke, Wolfram Höps, Anastasia Illarionova, Michael D Jochum, Maria Jose, Rupesh K Kesharwani, Sree Rohit Raj Kolora, Jędrzej Kubica, Priya Lakra, Damaris Lattimer, Chia-Sin Liew, Bai-Wei Lo, Chunhsuan Lo, Anneri Lötter, Sina Majidian, Suresh Kumar Mendem, Rajarshi Mondal, Hiroko Ohmiya, Nasrin Parvin, Carolina Peralta, Chi-Lam Poon, Ramanandan Prabhakaran, Marie Saitou, Aditi Sammi, Philippe Sanio, Nicolae Sapoval, Najeeb Syed, Todd Treangen, Gaojianyong Wang, Tiancheng Xu, Jianzhi Yang, Shangzhe Zhang, Weiyu Zhou, Fritz J Sedlazeck, Ben Busby

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

In October 2021, 59 scientists from 14 countries and 13 U.S. states collaborated virtually in the Third Annual Baylor College of Medicine & DNANexus Structural Variation hackathon. The goal of the hackathon was to advance research on structural variants (SVs) by prototyping and iterating on open-source software. This led to nine hackathon projects focused on diverse genomics research interests, including various SV discovery and genotyping methods, SV sequence reconstruction, and clinically relevant structural variation, including SARS-CoV-2 variants. Repositories for the projects that participated in the hackathon are available at https://github.com/collaborativebioinformatics.

Integrated Microtia And Aural Atresia Management, Mai Thy Truong, Yi-Chun Carol Liu, Jocelyn Kohn, Sivakumar Chinnadurai, David A Zopf, Melissa Tribble, Paul B Tanner, Kathleen Sie, Kay W Chang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVES: To present recommendations for the coordinated evaluation and management of the hearing and reconstructive needs of patients with microtia and aural atresia.

METHODS: A national working group of 9 experts on microtia and atresia evaluated a working document on the evaluation and treatment of patients. Treatment options for auricular reconstruction and hearing habilitation were reviewed and integrated into a coordinated care timeline.

RESULTS: Recommendations were created for children with microtia and atresia, including diagnostic considerations, surgical and non-surgical options for hearing management and auricular reconstruction, and the treatment timeline for each option. These recommendations are based on the collective …