Digital Commons Network^™

Unsupervised Deep Learning For Video Restoration, Mary Damilola Aiyetigbo

All Dissertations

In today's digital era, visual data is vital across several domains such as medical diagnostics, scientific imaging, surveillance, and entertainment. However, video data often suffers from degradations like noise, blur, compression artifacts, and low resolution, which degrade quality and downstream usability. Video restoration aims to recover clean, high-fidelity video from such corrupted inputs. Unlike static images, video restoration must maintain temporal consistency across frames, making it a significantly more complex problem. While supervised deep learning methods have achieved state-of-the-art results, they typically require large datasets of paired noisy-clean video datasets that are scarce or impractical to obtain in real-world settings …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Magnetic Nanoparticles To Study Effective Magnetic Anisotropy For Biomedical And Catalytic Applications, Alexander Malaj

All Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on understanding how to tune the magnetic properties of nanoparticles through controlling the effective magnetic anisotropy (Keff), which is a key variable in determining a nanoparticle’s Néel relaxation time, which will dictate its magnetic behavior in various applications. In this work, magnetocrystalline anisotropy is tuned by synthesizing tri-metallic substituted ferrite (Fe3-x-yMnxCoyO4) nanoparticles with specific metallic compositions that were informed by computer simulations using density functional theory (DFT) to target magnetocrystalline anisotropy values. A drip synthesis was used to control the size and composition of the tri-metallic ferrites, which were revealed to be monodisperse and compositionally mixed by …

Factors Influencing Swift Fox Reintroduction Success To Fort Belknap Reservation, Montana, Dana Nelson

All Dissertations

Reintroductions are an important conservation tool for reestablishing wildlife populations, and studying the factors influencing reintroduction outcomes is important to improving success rates over time. Swift fox are a small canid native to the short- and mixed grass prairies of western North America that have experienced severe population declines due to habitat loss and poisoning in the late 1800s. While swift fox now occupy approximately 40% of their historic range, reintroduction to northern Montana may promote the species’ long-term persistence, encourage connectivity in an existing range gap, and return species to areas where it is culturally significant. We studied the …

Constitutional Futurisms, Jeremiah Chin

Articles

How do we reckon with the past? The Supreme Court’s recent embrace of originalism as a mode of constitutional analysis relies almost exclusively on a view of history and tradition that would bind us to an understanding of principles and ideals that legitimized the exclusion of minority voices. Cases such as New York State Pistol and Rifle Ass'n v. Bruen use flavors of originalism as a framework to define rights and governmental powers through their historical antecedents, but this broad standard of interpretation is notably absent in the Court’s recent discussions of histories and traditions of racism in the United …

Seeking Existential Meaning In The “Sea Of Trees:” A Qualitative Exploration In The Depths Of Japan’S Aokigahara “Suicide” Forest, Sophia Bates

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This thesis explores the intercultural perceptions of suicidality and the role that these perceptions have on meaning of life in Japanese culture through an exploratory, autoethnographic analysis of my journey walking through Japan’s Aokigahara “suicide” Forest. In June 2024, I traveled to Fujikawaguchiko, Japan to conduct an autoethnographic analysis of my experiences walking through Aokigahara Forest using shinrin-yoku and mindful walking (Jung, 2014) as supplemental research methodologies to make empirical observations and take notes on my journey walking through suicide forest as an embodied sensory experience. Drawing upon the research and ideas of cultural anthropologist and existential philosopher Ernest Becker, …

Population Dynamics Of Feral Hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.) Across Illinois, Bryan Scott Foster

Dissertations

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is an historically cultivated species re-emerging in modern agriculture due to its utility as a fiber, grain, and cannabinoid crop. While industrial hemp refers to cultivated varieties bred for specific agronomic traits and legally defined by low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content, feral hemp, often called "ditch weed", represents escaped or naturalized populations descended from historical cultivation. These unmanaged populations persist and spread in disturbed habitats across North America, particularly in the Midwestern U.S., raising ecological and agronomic concerns due to their potential for genetic contamination, invasive behavior, and interactions with native species and agricultural systems. The overall …

Using Convolutional Neural Networks To Estimate Missing Values ​​In Univariate Time Series Data, Wasn Saad Al-Karadi

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

In this research, deep neural networks (CNNs) were used to estimate missing values ​​in a univariate time series dataset and compared with DES/Holt and (SVR) estimation methods to determine their accuracy in handling missing values ​​in the dataset. These missing values ​​directly affect the process of building mathematical and statistical models, affecting the accuracy of the final results that enable us to make the right decisions in the future. The presence of missing values ​​in the dataset is due to problems that occur during sampling, such as a malfunction in the measuring device, security attacks, or communication errors. The results …

Technical Study And Conservation Treatment Of A Painted Wooden Figure, Attributed As An 18th-Century American Sternboard, Sutton Hastman

Art Conservation Master's Projects

This study focuses on the investigation of an object owned by the Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) that was cataloged as an 18th -century American sternboard. The MAG shared concerns regarding the object’s provenance and whether the object was correctly identified. Technical analysis, including multimodal photography, x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) and wood identification, was conducted to inform the museum on the fabrication of the object and on its material components. The information collected was examined alongside historical research regarding the authenticity of the provenance, aiming to better understand the nature of the …

The Effect Of Maternal Antioxidant Vitamin Supplementation On Maternal And Cord Blood Adiponectin Concentrations, Jessica L Pippen, Paula Mcgee, James M Roberts, Leslie Myatt, Michael W Varner, Alan T N Tita, Ronald J Wapner, John M Thorp, Brian M Mercer, Beth A Plunkett, Sean C Blackwell, Anthony Sciscione, George R Saade

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Adiponectin is a hormone that modulates glucose regulation and fatty acid oxidation. Low adiponectin concentration has been associated with increased insulin resistance. Studies show a beneficial effect of vitamin E supplementation on insulin sensitivity. We aimed to investigate the association of prenatal antioxidant supplementation with increased adiponectin concentrations in pregnant participants and their newborn infants.Secondary analysis of a randomized control trial of prenatal vitamin C and E supplementation to prevent preeclampsia in low-risk nulliparous participants. Plasma of participants at time of randomization (9-16 weeks gestation) and delivery, and neonatal cord blood were analyzed by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for adiponectin …

Knowledge And Perceptions Of Modifiable Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Among Indians: Scoping Review, Kunwar Kaur, Ma'en Zaid Abu-Qamar, Amineh Rashidi, Nilufeur Mckay, Rosemary Saunders

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) causes a significant number of deaths globally. India has the highest IHD burden, with cases up 138% since 1990. Individuals of Indian descent face a greater risk of early IHD and poorer long-term outcomes. Indian people typically develop IHD a decade earlier than other populations, with 52% of IHD-related deaths occurring before the age of 70, compared to 23% in Western populations. Aims: This review aims to synthesise evidence on the Indian population's knowledge and perceptions of modifiable IHD risk factors and identify literature gaps. Methods: Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and the Preferred Reporting …

Adiponectin-Regulated Macrophage Responses In Aspergillus Fumigatus Infection: Mechanisms Of Uptake And Killing, Sri Harshini Goli

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Invasive aspergillosis (IA), caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, is a life-threatening infection in immunocompromised individuals, necessitating novel host-directed therapies. Macrophages are pivotal in antifungal defense, yet their function can be dysregulated; the influence of the adipokine adiponectin (APN) on this process is not fully understood. This thesis investigated the role of APN signaling in alveolar macrophage (AM) and bone marrow-derived macrophage (BMDM) responses to A. fumigatus and assessed the therapeutic potential of the APN receptor agonist, AdipoRon. Initial studies revealed that genetic deficiency in APN or its receptors renders AMs intrinsically pro-inflammatory and significantly impaired fungicidal activity against A. fumigatus. Subsequent …

Dermatoglyphic Fluctuating Asymmetry In Schizotypy, Marcus R. Thomas

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Schizotypy has been linked with many of the proposed endophenotypes of schizophrenia, but research is limited on the relationship between schizotypy and dermatoglyphic fluctuating asymmetry. The present study sought to examine relationships between schizotypy, dermatoglyphic fluctuating asymmetry, handedness, and season of birth. 146 undergraduate students were identified as schizotypes (n = 52) or controls (n = 94) based on the Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale and had their finger and palm prints collected along with completing additional measures of schizotypy and handedness. Schizotypes did not exhibit a greater degree of dermatoglyphic fluctuating asymmetry, negative schizotypy was associated with increased absolute finger ridge …

2025 August, Morehead State University. Office Of Communications & Marketing.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Press releases for August of 2025.

Optimization Of Mhealth Behavioral Interventions For Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: The Health4cll Study, Che Young Lee, Max J Gordon, Melissa M Markofski, Emily C Lavoy, Susan K Peterson, Liang Li, Sara Fares, Miranda Baum, Margaret Pace, Danielle Walsh, Alessandra Ferrajoli, Karen Basen-Engquist

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: This pilot study of a diet and physical activity intervention (HEALTH4CLL) was conducted to reduce fatigue and improve physical function (PF) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Methods: The HEALTH4CLL study used a randomized factorial design based on the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST). Patients received diet, exercise, and body weight management instructional materials plus a Fitbit and were randomized to undergo one of 16 combinations of 4 evidence-based mHealth intervention strategies over 16 weeks. Patients' fatigue, PF, health-related quality of life, behavior changes, and program satisfaction and retention were assessed. Paired t-tests were used to examine changes in …

Computed Tomography Radiomics-Based Cross-Sectional Detection Of Mandibular Osteoradionecrosis In Head And Neck Cancer Survivors, Serageldin Kamel, Laia Humbert-Vidan, Zaphanlene Kaffey, Sarah Mirbahaeddin, Abdulrahman Abusaif, David T A Fuentes, Kareem Wahid, Cem Dede, Mohamed A Naser, Renjie He, Ahmed W Moawad, Khaled M Elsayes, Melissa M Chen, Adegbenga O Otun, Jillian Rigert, Mark S Chambers, Andrew Hope, Erin Watson, Kristy K Brock, Katherine Hutcheson, Lisanne Van Dijk, Amy C Moreno, Stephen Y Lai, Clifton D Fuller, Abdallah S R Mohamed, Md Anderson Head And Neck Cancer Symptom Working Group

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: This study aims to identify radiomic features from contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) scans that differentiate osteoradionecrosis (ORN) from normal mandibular bone in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients treated with radiotherapy (RT).

Materials and methods: CECT images from 150 patients with confirmed ORN diagnosis (2008-2018) at MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) were analyzed (80 % train, 20 % test). Radiomic features were extracted using PyRadiomics from manually segmented ORN regions and automated contralateral healthy mandible regions. Correlation analysis (r > 0.95) reduced features for model training. A random Forest (RF) classifier with Recursive Feature Elimination identified discriminative features. Explainability was assessed …

Molecular Determinants Of Sotorasib Clinical Efficacy In Krasg12c-Mutated Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer, Ferdinandos Skoulidis, Bob T Li, Adrianus Johannes De Langen, David S Hong, Herve Lena, Juergen Wolf, Grace K Dy, Alessandra Curioni Fontecedro, Pascale Tomasini, Vamsidhar Velcheti, Anthonie J Van Der Wekken, Christophe Dooms, Luis Paz-Ares Rodriguez, Giannis Mountzios, Adrian Sacher, Ernest Nadal, Sebastien Couraud, Sang-We Kim, Kenneth O'Byrne, Danilo Rocco, Ryo Toyozawa, Izabela Chmielewska, Colin R Lindsay, Antreas Hindoyan, Lata Mukundan, Tomasz Wilmanski, Abraham Anderson, Christine Ardito-Abraham, Amrita Pati, Anita Reddy, Bhakti Mehta, Martin Schuler

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Molecular determinants of KRAS(G12C)inhibitor efficacy in KRASG12C-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain poorly characterized. Here we report one of the largest integrated analyses to date of sotorasib clinical efficacy biomarkers from the phase 2 CodeBreaK 100 and phase 3 CodeBreaK 200 studies. We reveal differential sotorasib activity and relative benefit compared to docetaxel across KRASG12C-mutated NSCLC co-mutational subsets and transcriptional subtypes. We also identify low expression of TTF1 and KEAP1 co-mutations/NRF2 activation as major determinants of sotorasib anti-tumor efficacy and adverse prognostic features. Exploratory analyses highlight potential tumor cell-extrinsic contributors to sotorasib anti-tumor activity and suggest …

Master Protocol Design With Hybrid Control For Efficient Early-Phase Trial Consolidation, Alexander M Kaizer, Xiaojiang Zhan, Eric Baron, Rui Sammi Tang, David S Hong, Brian P Hobbs

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Master protocols represent transformations, enabling multiple therapies or diseases under a single protocol. These designs streamline therapeutic development by reducing redundancies. Suited for evolving fields such as oncology and global emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic, master protocols have been exemplified by studies such as RECOVERY, Solidarity, and I-SPY 2, which accelerated effective treatment identification (with I-SPY 2 focused on molecular subtypes). Recent oncology examples, such as MORPHEUS, evaluate immunotherapy combinations with shared controls. Despite advantages, their application in early-phase oncology remains underutilized amid growing regulatory emphasis on randomization for robust evidence.

Methods: US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) …

Nanotechnology For Immuno-Oncology, Adam J Grippin, Daeyong Lee, Eileen E Parkes, Wen Jiang, Betty Y S Kim

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Although the first generation of cancer immunotherapeutics produced unprecedented improvements in clinical outcomes for individuals with cancer, novel strategies to increase treatment specificity, delivery efficiency and pharmacokinetics are still needed. In this Review, we describe the potential advantages and current limitations of nanomaterials for cancer immunotherapy and highlight rational uses of nanosystems to generate potent and durable antitumor immune responses. We close with a review of the current state of clinical development of nanomedicine for cancer immunotherapy.

Mitophagy’S Impacts On Cancer And Neurodegenerative Diseases: Implications For Future Therapies, Jason Huang, Vincent Truong Pham, Shaozi Fu, Gang Huang, Ya-Guang Liu, Lei Zheng

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Substantial evidence supports an inverse relationship between cancer and neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), but few studies investigate the biological mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. While previous explanations-such as inflammation, reactive oxygen species (ROS), genetic mutations, and cell death-remain significant, they ultimately converge on mitophagy. This review identifies mitophagy as a pivotal factor in the development of both cancer and NDDs, while also evaluating specific mechanisms and processes to clarify how mitophagy connects these opposing disease trajectories. By examining these factors, we aim to uncover the underlying mechanisms that explain the inverse relationship between cancer and NDDs, which will help develop therapeutic strategies …

Gd3 Synthase Drives Resistance To P53-Induced Apoptosis In Breast Cancer By Modulating Mitochondrial Function, Vivek Anand, Fouad El-Dana, Natalia Baran, Jenny Borgman, Zheng Yin, Hong Zhao, Stephen T Wong, Michael Andreeff, V Lokesh Battula

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

TP53 mutations are common in breast cancer (BC) and are associated with poor prognosis. GD3 synthase (GD3S/ST8SIA1), a gene associated with breast cancer stem cells, is upregulated in tumors with p53 mutations. However, the functional relationship between GD3S and p53 is unknown. Here, we show that GD3S levels are highest in breast tumors with specific p53 mutations. Functional studies revealed that wild-type (WT) p53 inhibits GD3S expression, whereas mutation in p53 enhances GD3S expression by upregulating GD3S promoter activity. Moreover, we found that GD3S inhibits wild-type p53-induced apoptosis in BC cells, while BC cells harboring gain-of-function p53 mutations are dependent …

Applying Transcriptomics For Technology Development And Conservation In North American Marine Organisms, Cory Von Eiff

Dissertations

RNA biology is a rapidly expanding field, with many avenues of discovery among marine organisms. In this study, we analyze both mollusks and sawfish. First, we perform an evaluation of sRNA biogenesis pathways throughout Mollusca, with emphasis on the easter oyster, Crassostrea virginica. Understanding these molecules prescribes RNAi-based gene silencing approaches, benefiting genetic investigation and biotechnology. Similar to other animal groups, mollusks have conserved microRNAs (miRNAs), with some shared with ecdysozoans and deuterostomes; however, there is no evidence of an endogenous small interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway. These results suggest that long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-based RNAi is not appropriate for gene …

Associative Coding Of Conditioned Fear In The Thalamic Nucleus Reuniens In Rodents And Humans, Tuğçe Tuna, Michael S Totty, Muhammad Badarnee, Flávio Afonso Gonçalves Mourão, Shaun Peters, Mohammad R Milad, Stephen Maren

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The nucleus reuniens (RE) is a midline thalamic structure interconnecting the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the hippocampus (HPC). Recent work in both rodents and humans implicates the RE in the adaptive regulation of emotional memories, including the suppression of learned fear. However, the neural correlates of aversive learning in the RE of rodents and humans remain unclear. To address this, we recorded RE activity in humans (BOLD fMRI) and rats (fiber photometry) during Pavlovian fear conditioning and extinction. In both rats and humans, we found that conditioned stimulus (CS)-evoked activity in RE reflects the associative value of the CS. …

Sex-Related Variability In The Perception Of Symptoms Associated With Common Otolaryngologic Complaints, Sabrina K Wagner, Jakob L Fischer, Alvaro Navarro, Lily Trinh, Waleed M Abuzeid, Ian M Humphreys, Nadeem A Akbar, Sharan Shah, Jivianne T Lee, Tara Wu, John S Schneider, Edward D Mccoul, Charles A Riley, Anthony M Tolisano

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVE: To assess the differences in the symptoms associated with common otolaryngology complaints between male and female patients.

METHODS: Between June 2020 and July 2023, a multi-institutional cross-sectional study was performed at six tertiary academic otolaryngology practices using semantics-based questionnaires to assess the symptoms patients associate with the complaints of sinus infection, reflux, congestion, and dizziness. Patients selected symptoms from lists of proposed terms to describe the various conditions. The primary outcome measure was sex-related differences in respondent symptom selection.

RESULTS: Four separate questionnaires were completed by a total of 1495 patients (46.0% male, 54.0% female). Female patients more often …

Genetic Diversity And Expanded Phenotypes In Dystonia: Insights From Large-Scale Exome Sequencing, Mirja Thomsen, Joel S Perlmutter, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVE: Dystonia is one of the most prevalent movement disorders, characterized by significant clinical and etiological heterogeneity. Despite considerable heritability (~25%), the etiology in most patients remains elusive. Moreover, understanding correlations between clinical manifestations and genetic variants has become increasingly complex.

METHODS: Exome sequencing was conducted on 1924 genetically unsolved, mainly late-onset isolated dystonia patients, recruited primarily from two dystonia registries (DysTract and the Dystonia Coalition). Rare variants in genes previously linked to dystonia (n = 406) were examined, confirmed via Sanger sequencing, and analyzed for segregation when possible.

RESULTS: We identified 137 distinct likely pathogenic/pathogenic variants (according to ACMG …

The Importance Of Imperfect Pre-Clinical Models In Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, Diane S Sepich, Ryan S Gray, Nadav Ahituv, Christina A Gurnett, Jonathan J Rios, Lila Solnica-Krezel, Carol A Wise

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a twisting spinal deformity that occurs in otherwise healthy children at the time of rapid pre-pubescent growth. AIS affects ∼3% of children worldwide and is the most common musculoskeletal diagnosis in pediatric populations, posing a significant physiological, psychosocial and financial burden to patients. Genetic predisposition is a clear and major contributor to AIS, and insights from genomic discoveries are inspiring translational studies ultimately aimed at developing novel diagnostics and therapies. Pre-clinical animal models of AIS are now essential to validate human genetic findings, understand gene-by-environment interactions, and speed etiologic and therapeutic discovery. In this Perspective, …

Disruption Of The Cerebrospinal Fluid-Plasma Protein Balance In Cognitive Impairment And Aging, Amelia Farinas, Daniel Western, Jigyasha Timsina, Carlos Cruchaga, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The brain barrier system, including the choroid plexus, meninges and brain vasculature, regulates substrate transport and maintains differential protein concentrations between blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Aging and neurodegeneration disrupt brain barrier function, but proteomic studies of the effects on blood-CSF protein balance are limited. Here we used SomaScan proteomics to characterize paired CSF and plasma samples from 2,171 healthy or cognitively impaired older individuals from multiple cohorts, including the Global Neurodegeneration Proteomics Consortium. We identified proteins with correlated CSF and plasma levels that are produced primarily outside the brain and are enriched for structural domains that may enable their …

Tau Pet Positivity In Individuals With And Without Cognitive Impairment Varies With Age, Amyloid-Β Status, Apoe Genotype And Sex, Rik Ossenkoppele, Tammy L S Benzinger, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Tau positron emission tomography (PET) imaging allows in vivo detection of tau proteinopathy in Alzheimer's disease, which is associated with neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. Understanding how demographic, clinical and genetic factors relate to tau PET positivity will facilitate its use for clinical practice and research. Here we conducted an analysis of 42 cohorts worldwide (N = 12,048), including 7,394 cognitively unimpaired (CU) participants, 2,177 participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 2,477 participants with dementia. We found that from age 60 years to 80 years, tau PET positivity in a temporal composite region increased from 1.1% to 4.4% among CU …

The Microrna Mir-30a Blocks Adipose Tissue Fibrosis Accumulation In Obesity, Pradip K Saha, Robert Sharp, Aaron R. Cox, Rabie Habib, Michael J. Bolt, Jessica B. Felix, Claudia E. Ramirez Bustamante, Xin Li, Sung Yun Jung, Kang Ho Kim, Kai Sun, Huaizhu Wu, Samuel Klein, Sean M. Hartig

2020-Current year OA Pubs

White adipose tissue (WAT) fibrosis occurring in obesity contributes to the inflammatory and metabolic comorbidities of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, yet the mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. Here, we report a role for the broadly conserved miRNA miR-30a as a regulator of WAT fibrosis and systemic glucose metabolism. Mice modified to express miR-30a at elevated levels in adipose tissues maintain insulin sensitivity coupled with reduced fatty liver disease when fed a high-fat diet. These effects were attributable to cell-autonomous functions of miR-30a that potently increase expression of adipocyte-specific genes. Proteomic screening revealed miR-30a limits profibrotic programs in subcutaneous …

Critical Communication Pedagogy At The End Of The World, Tyler S. Rife

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

This essay draws upon my experiences teaching the undergraduate course, “Communication at the End of the World,” to argue for an approach to critical communication pedagogy (CCP) contextualized by and reflexively responsive to planetary-scale ecological crises. I outline how five commitments have come to guide my classroom’s explorations through our topic of “end-times” communication: (1) Anthropocentrism and speciesism participate in the maintenance of social hierarchy; (2) environmental justice and social justice are intimately entangled projects; (3) ecological crisis is (re)made concrete, embodied, proximal, and implicative; (4) critique of language involves critique of humanism and humanist historicization; and, (5) ecologically just …

Dissemination And Implementation Of A Telehealth-Enabled Program For Providing Infectious Disease Expertise In Rural Settings, Robin L P Jump, Jason P Burnham, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Telehealth can facilitate improving antibiotic use and related antimicrobial stewardship activities in facilities underserved by infectious diseases (IDs) expertise. We describe implementation of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) videoconference antimicrobial stewardship team (VAST) to connect multidisciplinary teams from rural VA medical centers (VAMCs) with geographically distant ID experts.

METHODS: We implemented VASTs at 10 rural VAMCs from September 2021 to February 2024. VASTs consisted of regular meetings between rural VAMCs and an off-site ID expert who met by videoconference to discuss clinical cases, emphasizing recommendations for antibiotic prescribing. The VA Corporate Data Warehouse was used to collect information …