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Teaching The Past To Protect The Future: Degenerate Art As A Modern-Day Cultural Warning, Cheryl Hogue Smith

Publications and Research

This chapter outlines how students who previously weren’t paying attention to the rampant antisemitism and racism embedded within American culture and systems see how the 20th century Degenerate Art Exhibition acts as a lesson against a racial nationalism that is attempting to take over the country.

Time As A “Built-In Headwind”: The Disparate Impact Of Portfolio Cross-Assessment On Black Tyc Students, Annie M. Del Principe

Publications and Research

This study of a departmental portfolio cross-assessment practice sheds light on factors that appear to influence assessment outcomes for Black students and helps to tease out some of the reasons why this assessment ecosystem has a disparate impact on these students. The findings, drawn from student outcomes data and student survey data, suggest that it isn’t only, or even primarily, Black students’ linguistic variety that leads to higher failure rates. The writing qualities most commonly flagged on Black students’ failing portfolios are likely related to the very different material conditions in which they write their papers. These conditions challenge the …

Identities Of Women In Indian Art And History, Nalini Rao

Monsoon: South Asian Studies Association Journal

The stereotypical image of Indian women portrayed in the art of stone sculpture is often interpreted as images of beauty that are sensuous, religious as well depict social life. There are historical reasons for depicting her as such. This paper inquires into the changing depiction and social forces that influenced feminine imagery. This paper examines the portrayal of beauty through idealization of female body which has evolved over the centuries in India. It also aims to understand their changing status and explores issues of feminine identity, status, and empowerment largely in ancient and medieval India. It also provides a brief …

Needs Assessment For Faculty Development In Health Professions Education At A Medical University In Karachi, Pakistan, Tabassum Zehra, Sana Saeed, Rahila Ali, Amber Sultan, Areeba Hussain

Department for Educational Development

Faculty Development (FD) embraces all educational activities used by teachers to improve their knowledge and skills for enhancing their academic competencies. This study aimed to identify the areas in Health Professions Education (HPE) in which formal faculty development is required. A needs assessment survey was conducted from among the faculty members at the Aga Khan University (AKU), Karachi, Pakistan, and the French Medical Institute for Mother and Children, Afghanistan. Data was analysed using SPSS 20.0 and reported frequencies and percentages according to various academic tracks. Competency-based curricula (51%), providing effective feedback (51%), developing Objective Structured Clinical Exam (51%), and clinical …

Assessing The Validity Of Admission Test Into The Internship Programme At A Private University In Pakistan, Qamar Riaz, Naveed Yousuf, Muhammad Shahzad Shamim

Department for Educational Development

Objective: To report the development and validity assessment of a comprehensive model of assessment method comprising written test and multiple mini interviews for selection in a medical internship programme.
Method: The psychometric validation study was conducted at the Aga Khan University, Karachi, and comprised anonymised scores of written admission test, multiple mini interviews and exit written exams for all the interns who completed their internships in 2018 and 2019. Correlation between admission and exit tests, and predictions were assessed. Data was analysed using SPSS 20.
Results: There were 160 interns; 80(50%) each in 2018 and 2019. Mean scores were …

The Impact Of Breast Awareness On The Early Detection Of Breast Cancer In Young Women: A Systematic Review, Dorsa Banihashemi, Meagan E. Brennan

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Background: “Breast awareness” is a recommendation that women understand the symptoms of breast cancer and become familiar with the usual look and feel of their breasts. It is recommended for women of all ages in breast cancer screening guidelines around the world. The objective of this study was to assess the evidence for breast awareness by investigating its effect on breast cancer outcomes in women of pre-mammographic-screening age (under age 40), at average risk of breast cancer.

Methods: A systematic review was performed using PRISMA methodology. Following the search, abstracts and full-text articles were assessed against eligibility criteria. Data …

Humans Versus Robots: Converting Golf Putter Trajectories For Robotic Guidance, Stephen R. Bested, Valentin A. Crainic, Gerome A. Manson, Luc Tremblay

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Robotic devices are used to provide physical guidance when teaching different movements. To advance our knowledge of robotic guidance in training complex movements, this investigation tested different kinematic data filtering methods of individual’s golf putts to convert them into trajectories to be employed by a robot arm. The purpose of the current study was to identify a simple filtering method to aptly replicate participants’ individual golf putter trajectories which could be used by the robot to execute them with greater consistency and accuracy than their human counterpart.

Participants putted towards 3 targets where three-dimensional data of the putter’s head was …

'Ice In The Family': Exploring The Experiences Of Close Family Members When Another Family Member Is Using Methamphetamine: A Longitudinal Qualitative Study, Douglas Greg Gordon, Kylie Russell, Tracey Coventry

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Objective: To explore the experiences of close family members when another family member is using methamphetamine and how the family member responds over time.

Background: Methamphetamine use has widespread implications and harms for both people who use the drug and those that live with them. While there is a significant representation in the literature relating to family members of people who use drugs or alcohol, there are limited studies specifically considering family members experiences of methamphetamine use. Families have been shown to have both positive and negative impacts on people using drugs, but less is known on the impact on …

Impact Of Multimorbidity On Mortality In Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: Which Comorbidities Matter Most? An Analysis Of Paradigm-Hf And Atmosphere, Pooja Dewan, Joao P. Ferreira, Jawad H. Butt, Mark C. Petrie, William T. Abraham, Akshay S. Desai, Kenneth Dickstein, Lars Kober, Milton Packer, Jean L. Rouleau, Simon Stewart, Karl Swedberg, Michael R. Zile, Scott D. Solomon, Pardeep S. Jhund, John Jv Mcmurray

IHR Papers and Journal Articles

Aims: Multimorbidity, the coexistence of two or more chronic conditions, is synonymous with heart failure (HF). How risk related to comorbidities compares at individual and population levels is unknown. The aim of this study is to examine the risk related to comorbidities, alone and in combination, both at individual and population levels.

Methods and results: Using two clinical trials in HF – the Prospective comparison of ARNI (Angiotensin Receptor–Neprilysin Inhibitor) with ACEI (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor) to Determine Impact on Global Mortality and morbidity in HF trial (PARADIGM-HF) and the Aliskiren Trial to Minimize Outcomes in Patients with Heart Failure trials …

Economic Cost Of Secondary Postpartum Haemorrhage: A Case-Control Study At A Tertiary Hospital In Australia, Nicole Young, Julie Quinlivan, Rachael Fox, Jess Anderson, Laura Davis, Samantha S. Mooney

IHR Papers and Journal Articles

Background

Secondary postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is a condition which affects 0.2–3.0% of women. Despite its impact on maternal morbidity, there is a lack of understanding of the cost burden of disease.

Aims

To determine the economic cost of secondary PPH in the postpartum period, compared to the costs for women without this diagnosis.

Materials and methods

Data were prospectively collected on a cohort of 97 women who presented with secondary PPH to the emergency department (ED) between July 2020 and February 2021. A case–control design was then used to compare postpartum cost data from these patients to a group of …

Technology-Guided Assessment Of Vocalisations And Their Diagnostic Value As Pain Indicators For People Living With Dementia, Kreshnik Hoti, Atee Mustafa, Paola Chivers, Ipsit Vahia, Jeff Hughes

IHR Papers and Journal Articles

Background

during pain assessment in persons unable to self-report, such as people living with dementia, vocalisations are commonly used as pain indicators. However, there is a lack of evidence from clinical practice regarding their diagnostic value and relationship with pain. We aimed to explore vocalisations and pain in people with dementia undergoing pain assessments in clinical practice settings. Methods

a total of 22,194 pain assessments were reviewed in people with dementia (n = 3,144) from 34 different Australian aged care homes and two dementia specific programs. Pain assessments were conducted by 389 purposely trained health care professionals and cares …

Outcomes Of Completed Quality Activities In An Australian Tertiary Hospital, 2015-2019, Qun Catherine Li, Jonathan Karnon, Jim Codde

IHR Papers and Journal Articles

Quality activities including quality assurance and quality improvement are an integral part of safety and quality governance for hospitals. Previous studies identified that (i) majority are for quality assurance and knowledge-acquiring purposes and (ii) adherence to the quality cycle as well as impact on patient-related outcomes at the hospital level are unclear, neither associated with costs. This study aims to (i) assess adherence to the quality cycle for quality activities in a large Australian tertiary hospital; (ii) report outcomes of quality activities at the hospital level, including impact on patient-related outcomes measured by the occurrence of hospital-acquired complications; and (iii) …

Invasion Risk By Fruit Trees Mealybug Rastrococcus Invadens (Williams) (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) Under Climate Warming, Abdelmutalab G.A. Azrag, Samira A. Mohamed, Shepard Ndlela, Sunday Ekesi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The mango mealybug Rastrococcus invadens (Williams) (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) is a destructive and important insect pest of fruit trees in Africa and Asia, especially the mango. Females and nymphs feed on plant leaves and fruits and produce honeydew that causes sooty mold, leading to yield reduction. Although it is an important pest, the distribution of R. invadens under different climate change scenarios has not been established. In this study, we predicted the suitable habitat for R. invadens occurrence under current and future [two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) scenarios: (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5) for the years 2050s and 2070s], using environmental variables and …

The Rising Tide Of Revisional Surgery: Tracking Changes In Index Cases Among Bariatric-Accredited Fellowships, Lincoln N Strickland, Erika Y Faraoni, Wei Ruan, Xiaoyi Yuan, Holger K Eltzschig, Jennifer M Bailey-Lundberg

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by a dense desmoplastic stroma that impedes drug delivery, reduces parenchymal blood flow, and suppresses the anti-tumor immune response. The extracellular matrix and abundance of stromal cells result in severe hypoxia within the tumor microenvironment (TME), and emerging publications evaluating PDAC tumorigenesis have shown the adenosine signaling pathway promotes an immunosuppressive TME and contributes to the overall low survival rate. Hypoxia increases many elements of the adenosine signaling pathway, resulting in higher adenosine levels in the TME, further contributing to immune suppression. Extracellular adenosine signals through 4 adenosine receptors (Adora1, Adora2a, Adora2b, Adora3). Of …

Cytological Diagnosis Of Pilomatrixoma And Its Diagnostic Pitfalls, Sabina Khan, Inara Abeer, Musharraf Husain, Sujata Jetley

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Pilomatrixoma (PMX) is a relatively uncommon benign cutaneous neoplasm arising from skin adnexa. It presents as a subcutaneous asymptomatic nodule mostly in the head and neck region and is frequently misdiagnosed by the clinicians. Although easily diagnosed on histopathology, the cytologic features of PMX are less distinctive, depending on the stage and evolution of disease and may mimic other benign or even malignant lesions.

AIM: To study the cyto-morphological features of this uncommon neoplasm and identify its potential diagnostic pitfalls on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Archival records of histopathologically diagnosed Pilomatrixoma were analyzed during study …

Henry Gas Solubility Optimization Double Machine Learning Classifier For Neurosurgical Patients, Diana T Mosa, Amena Mahmoud, John Zaki, Shaymaa E Sorour, Shaker El-Sappagh, Tamer Abuhmed

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This study aims to predict head trauma outcome for Neurosurgical patients in children, adults, and elderly people. As Machine Learning (ML) algorithms are helpful in healthcare field, a comparative study of various ML techniques is developed. Several algorithms are utilized such as k-nearest neighbor, Random Forest (RF), C4.5, Artificial Neural Network, and Support Vector Machine (SVM). Their performance is assessed using anonymous patients' data. Then, a proposed double classifier based on Henry Gas Solubility Optimization (HGSO) is developed with Aquila optimizer (AQO). It is implemented for feature selection to classify patients' outcome status into four states. Those are mortality, morbidity, …

Refereed Research - Impact Of Covid-19 On Subsistence Consumer-Merchants: A Study Of Tourism In The Himalayan Region, Sheetal Kapoor, Jigmet Wangdus, Shikha Upadhyaya

Subsistence Marketplaces

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global production and consumption patterns, affecting all anthropogenic activities. Findings from in-depth interviews with subsistence entrepreneurs in the Himalayan region highlight how the pandemic exacerbated the day-to-day challenges of the locals and the strategies they utilized to tackle uncertainties. Implications are derived for research and practice.

Key Words: Pandemic, tourism, subsistence consumer merchants (SCM), subsistence entrepreneurs

Potential Of Cavalcade, Centrosema Pascuorum, Leaves For Controlling Meloidogyne Javanica And Quantification Of Active Phytochemicals, Natthidech Beesa, Buncha Chinnasri, Anongnuch Sasnarukkit, Tida Dethoup, Kansiree Jindapunnapat, Agnes W. Kiriga, Kanan Saikai, Solveig Haukeland, Danny Coyne

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The legume cavalcade, Centrosema pascuorum, is used extensively as a cover crop and as a component of conservation agriculture systems. It is also an attractive rotation or cover crop for the management of root-knot nematodes (RKN; Meloidogyne spp.) as it is a non-host. RKN are persistent pests that are well known to be difficult to control. However, the mechanisms governing the non-host status of cavalcade is unknown. The current study established that cavalcade leaves are toxic to RKN as either aqueous extracts or soil amendments. Bioassays conducted using Meloidogyne javanica showed that a 90% concentration of aqueous extract derived from …

Mathematical Modelling Of The Interactive Dynamics Of Wild And Microsporidia Mb-Infected Mosquitoes, Charlène N.T. Mfangnia, Henri E.Z. Tonnang, Berge Tsanou, Jeremy Herren

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

A recent discovery highlighted that mosquitoes infected with Microsporidia MB are unable to transmit the Plasmodium to humans. Microsporidia MB is a symbiont transmitted vertically and horizontally in the mosquito population, and these transmission routes are known to favor the persistence of the parasite in the mosquito population. Despite the dual transmission, data from field experiments reveal a low prevalence of MB-infected mosquitoes in nature. This study proposes a compartmental model to understand the prevalence of MB-infected mosquitoes. The dynamic of the model is obtained through the computation of the basic reproduction number and the analysis of the stability of …

A Quality Improvement Project To Improve Management Of Urinary Tract Infections In A System Of Pediatric Urgent Care Centers, Benjamin Klick, Tammy Speerhas, Jessica Parrott, Jeffrey Bobrowitz, Anne Mcevoy, Debra Conrad, Theresa Guins

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Background and objective: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common problem in pediatric urgent care medicine. There are multiple quality improvement (QI) projects related to the management of UTIs documented in the pediatric literature. We developed a project to decrease the prescribing of ultimately unneeded antibiotics for possible UTIs in a pediatric urgent care setting. A similar project has not been described in the pediatric literature.

Methods: We first reviewed the charts of patients presenting to a system of pediatric urgent care centers with a possible UTI over a 2-year period. We then launched a QI project with three plan, …

Retinal Alpha-Synuclein Accumulation Correlates With Retinal Dysfunction And Structural Thinning In The A53t Mouse Model Of Parkinson’S Disease, Katie K N Tran, Vickie H Y Wong, Anh Hoang, David I Finkelstein, Bang V Bui, Christine T O Nguyen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Abnormal alpha-synuclein (α-SYN) protein deposition has long been recognized as one of the pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease's (PD). This study considers the potential utility of PD retinal biomarkers by investigating retinal changes in a well characterized PD model of α-SYN overexpression and how these correspond to the presence of retinal α-SYN. Transgenic A53T homozygous (HOM) mice overexpressing human α-SYN and wildtype (WT) control littermates were assessed at 4, 6, and 14  months of age (male and female,

Adrenal Venous Sampling In Primary Aldosteronism: Single-Centre Experience From Western India, Krantikumar Rathod, Saba S Memon, Punit Mahajan, Anurag Lila, Dhaval Thakkar, Hemant Deshmukh, Tushar Bandgar

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: The protocols and criteria used for adrenal venous sampling (AVS) differ across centres. There are no studies from the Indian subcontinent describing AVS-based outcomes in primary aldosteronism (PA). We aim to describe our experience from a single centre.

METHODS: Retrospective records from 2018 to 2020 of patients with confirmed PA who underwent AVS were reviewed. Clinical, imaging, AVS data and outcomes (as per PASO criteria) were recorded. AVS was performed by sequential sampling with cosyntropin stimulation with intraprocedural cortisol and cut-off of selectivity >5 and lateralization >4 by a single radiologist.

RESULTS: Fifteen patients with median age of 50 …

Quality Care Is Equitable Care: A Call To Action To Link Quality To Achieving Health Equity Within Acute Care Surgery, Lisa M Knowlton, Tanya Zakrison, Lillian S Kao, Marta L Mccrum, Suresh Agarwal, Brandon Bruns, Kathie-Ann Joseph, Cherisse Berry

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Health equity is defined as the sixth domain of healthcare quality. Understanding health disparities in acute care surgery (defined as trauma surgery, emergency general surgery and surgical critical care) is key to identifying targets that will improve outcomes and ensure delivery of high-quality care within healthcare organizations. Implementing a health equity framework within institutions such that local acute care surgeons can ensure equity is a component of quality is imperative. Recognizing this need, the AAST (American Association for the Surgery of Trauma) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee convened an expert panel entitled 'Quality Care is Equitable Care' at the 81st …

When Seeing Is Believing: A Framework For Reflective Conversations In Remote And Face-To-Face Coaching Approaches, Cheryl Varghese, April Crawford, Linda Morgan-Dorsey, Maram Ahmed, Laura Prendergast, Tracy Osborn

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Reflective conversations between teachers and coaches are critical to helping teachers improve their classroom instruction. Coaches who encourage teachers to "see, think, and do" are better able to facilitate meaningful reflective conversations with teachers. The "See, Think, Do" framework consists of six steps (observe, describe, process, analyze, draw conclusions, and plan) that can be used to help coaches engage in reflective conversations with teachers. The framework can be readily implemented in remote and face-to-face coaching modalities and in one-on-one and small group delivery formats. Suggestions and strategies for implementing the framework in ongoing coach-teacher conversations are provided.

Unsheltered Homeless And Unstably Housed Adults Have Higher Levels Of Stress And More Health Risk Factors Than Sheltered Homeless Adults, Chaelin K Ra, Emily T Hébert, Adam Alexander, Darla E Kendzor, Robert Suchting, Michael S Businelle

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In the United States, approximately 580,000 individuals were homeless on a single night in 2020. Homelessness can be categorized into three subgroups: sheltered homeless, unsheltered homeless, and unstably housed. Few studies have examined the relations between homelessness subtypes, shelter service utilization, levels of stress experienced, and health risk factors. This study aimed to empirically examine whether shelter status the previous night was related to current stress, recent utilization of shelter-based mental health services, and current health risk factors. Data were collected at multiple homeless shelters in 2016 in the Oklahoma City area (N=575). All participants completed assessments of demographic characteristics, …

Ifabp Levels Predict Visceral Malperfusion In The First Hours After Open Thoracoabdominal Aortic Repair, Panagiotis Doukas, Cathryn Bassett, Hanif Krabbe, Jelle Frankort, Michael J Jacobs, Moustafa Elfeky, Alexander Gombert

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Intestinal ischemia after open thoracoabdominal aortic repairs, is a rare but devastating complication, associated with high mortality. Notoriously challenging to diagnose, visceral malperfusion necessitates immediate surgical attention. Intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (IFABP) has been proposed as a biomarker for the diagnosis of intestinal wall damage. In this prospectively conducted, observational study we evaluated the diagnostic capacity of IFABP levels in patients' serum and their correlation with visceral malperfusion.

METHODS: 23 patients undergoing open thoracoabdominal aortic repairs were included in this study and 8 of them were diagnosed postoperatively with visceral malperfusion-defined as a partial or complete thrombotic occlusion of …

Examining The Role Of Autonomy Support, Goal Setting, And Care Coordination Quality On Hiv Prep Adherence In Black Men Who Have Sex With Men: Hptn 073, Donte T Boyd, Laron E Nelson, Mandy J Hill, Darren Whitfield, S Raquel Ramos, Samuel Akyirem, Lynda Emel, Leo Wilton, Lisa Hightow-Weidman, Steve Shoptaw, Manya Magnus, Kenneth H Mayer, Estelle Piwowar-Manning, Stephaun E Wallace, Sheldon D Fields, Darrell P Wheeler

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Autonomy support is a concept that is derived from self-determination theory. Autonomy refers to the freedom to act as one chooses. The current study aimed to examine if autonomy support was associated with dried blood spot validated pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) adherence, and whether the association was mediated by PrEP adherence goal setting and progress toward PrEP adherence goals. Our sample was drawn from Black men who have sex with men (MSM) from across three cities (Chapel Hill, NC; Los Angeles, CA; and Washington, DC) in the United States between February 2013 and September 2014. We used logistic regression to evaluate …

Exaptation And Evolutionary Adaptation In Nociceptor Mechanisms Driving Persistent Pain, Edgar T Walters

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Several evolutionary explanations have been proposed for why chronic pain is a major clinical problem. One is that some mechanisms important for driving chronic pain, while maladaptive for modern humans, were adaptive because they enhanced survival. Evidence is reviewed for persistent nociceptor hyperactivity (PNH), known to promote chronic pain in rodents and humans, being an evolutionarily adaptive response to significant bodily injury, and primitive molecular mechanisms related to cellular injury and stress being exapted (co-opted or repurposed) to drive PNH and consequent pain.

Summary: PNH in a snail (Aplysia californica), squid (Doryteuthis pealeii), fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), mice, rats, …

Oral Small Molecule Agents In Management Of Ulcerative Colitis: Fact Or Fancy?, Benan Kasapoğlu, Atilla Ertan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic, immune-mediated disease characterized by recurring episodes of mucosal inflammation in the colon and rectum. The primary pathogenic mechanism of ulcerative colitis is the dysregulation of the mucosal immune response. The disease follows a relapsing-remitting course, and the goal of management is to successfully induce and then maintain remission. Effectively managing this chronic disease requires addressing all aspects of it. Currently, we have various antitumor necrosis factor agents and novel biologics available for treating ulcerative colitis patients with moderate-to-severe disease. However, none of the existing treatments are considered entirely satisfactory or ideal in these cases. After …

Effect Of Concurrent Mitral Valve Surgery For Secondary Mitral Regurgitation Upon Mortality After Aortic Valve Replacement Or Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery, Shyamal R Asher, Chin Siang Ong, Raymond J Malapero, Mahyar Heydarpour, Gregory W Malzberg, Jasmine T Shahram, Thy B Nguyen, Douglas C Shook, Stanton K Shernan, Prem Shekar, Tsuyoshi Kaneko, Rodolfo Citro, Jochen D Muehlschlegel, Simon C Body

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVES: It is uncertain whether concurrent mitral valve repair or replacement for moderate or greater secondary mitral regurgitation at the time of coronary artery bypass graft or aortic valve replacement surgery improves long-term survival.

METHODS: Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft and/or aortic valve replacement surgery with moderate or greater secondary mitral regurgitation were reviewed. The effect of concurrent mitral valve repair or replacement upon long-term mortality was assessed while accounting for patient and operative characteristics and mitral regurgitation severity.

RESULTS: Of 1,515 patients, 938 underwent coronary artery bypass graft or aortic valve replacement surgery alone and 577 underwent concurrent …