Digital Commons Network^™

An Improved Earned Value Management Method Integrating Quality And Safety, Brian Briggs

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The construction industry invests significant time and money to improve quality and safety while reducing cost and schedule impacts. The industry has a sincere desire to improve construction project management methods to improve efficiency. Historically, quality and safety underperformances result from undermanaged quality control and safety activities. The cost and schedule impacts associated with poor quality work have always had an impact on construction operations. The unprecedented challenges and uncertainties of COVID-19 highlighted the need to improve the Earned Value Management (EVM) method within construction to reflect these quality and safety activities. The central goal of this dissertation is to …

Covid-19 Mortality Prediction Using Machine Learning-Integrated Random Forest Algorithm Under Varying Patient Frailty, Erwin Cornelius

Theses and Dissertations

The abundance of type and quantity of available data in the healthcare field has led many to utilize machine learning approaches to keep up with this influx of data. Data pertaining to COVID-19 is an area of recent interest. The widespread influence of the virus across the United States creates an obvious need to identify groups of individuals that are at an increased risk of mortality from the virus. We propose a so-called clustered random forest approach to predict COVID-19 patient mortality. We use this approach to examine the hidden heterogeneity of patient frailty by examining demographic information for COVID-19 …

Health Disparity And Covid-19—A Retrospective Analysis, Sanjay Sarkar, Archie Taylor, Pratik Dutta, Bidisha Sengupta, Debarshi Roy

Faculty Publications

Background and Aims

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 75.7 million confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), have been reported so far. Researchers are working relentlessly to find effective solutions to this catastrophe, using genomic sequence-based investigation, immunological analysis, and more. The role of health disparity has also emerged as an intriguing factor that made a huge impact on the lives of people.

Methods

We analyzed various factors that triggered the health disparity in the United States of America along with the rate of …

Covid-19 Exposures And Health Alerts (7/12/2021- 7/18/2021), Georgia Southern University

Covid-19 Pandemic: News & Publications (Archived)

The report below shows an anticipated rise in confirmed and self-reported cases after completion of the second full week of classes on our campuses. As an institution of nearly 27,000 students and 3,350 employees, positive reports represent a very small proportion of our overall university population. These cases are primarily concentrated within the student population on the Statesboro campus. While we have been pleased with how the university community is complying with public health guidelines on our campuses, we must remain vigilant in our efforts if we want to continue the semester as we have started.

How Libraries Responded In The Early Days Of The Pandemic: A Study Of The Lis Literature, Jane Kinkus Yatcilla, Sarah Young

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

As we emerge from an unprecedented pandemic that saw closure of libraries, schools, and universities worldwide, we can begin to assess potential lasting impacts on institutions, professions and communities. Through a rapid bibliometric study of COVID-19-related library publishing, we provide a first glimpse into the impacts of the pandemic on library operations, services, collections, and the workforce. We identified and analyzed 237 journal articles published in 2020 about libraries and the pandemic. These articles indicate broad cross-sectoral, global impacts on libraries and librarianship. Our analysis provides a baseline for future research on lasting effects of the pandemic on the field.

The Effectiveness Of Music Therapy Through Telehealth In Addressing Quality Of Life And Mood In Those With Alzheimer’S Disease, Taylor Margaret Stengren

Theses and Dissertations

Background: With the current COVID-19 pandemic, nursing homes/assisted living facilities have had to lock down their residents from the outside world. With the introduction of telehealth, music therapists are looking at how music therapy can still be offered to elderly populations to keep them safe during this stressful time. Purpose: The purpose of this research is to explore if music therapy through telehealth can be an effective tool in providing sessions to those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in nursing homes/assisted living facilities to address goals related to quality of life and overall mood. Method: This study consisted of three individuals, …

Bibliometric Landscape Of Indian Publications On Covid-19 In 2020, Tapas Kumar Ghosh

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The paper attempts to provide a bibliometric landscape of Indian publications on the topic “COVID-19” in the year 2020. The threat of “COVID-19” pandemic constrained the researchers across the world to foster the research activities to combat the drastic effect of the new emerged infectious disease on human beings turned into pandemic in 2020 resulted influx in publication around the globe and the contribution of India found considerable. As per the data retrieved from Web of Science (WOS) on 29^th April, 2021, 62755 documents published at the global level on the topic “COVID-19” in the year 2020 where India …

Th2/Th1 Cytokine Imbalance Is Associated With Higher Covid-19 Risk Mortality, Ana B. Pavel, Jacob W. Glickman, James R. Michels, Seunghee Kim-Schulze, Rachel L. Miller, Emma Guttman-Yassky

Faculty and Student Publications

A major component of COVID-19 severe respiratory syndrome is the patient’s immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the consequential multi-organ inflammatory response. Several studies suggested a potential role of CD4+ T cells in COVID-19 severe respiratory syndrome. We first hypothesized that there is a type 2 helper (Th2)/type 1 helper (Th1) imbalance in older age, male, asthma, smokers, and high ACE2 expression phenotype in the airway of non-infected patients. Next, we hypothesized that a Th2/Th1 imbalance may predict higher mortality in COVID-19 infected hospitalized patients with and without patient reported current asthma. We first analyzed publicly available gene expression …

2021-07-16_Michiganoverview_Covidbedppe, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Hospital Data

Contains the tables Statewide Hospital Capacity Report for COVID-19, COVID-19 Metrics, Statewide Hospital Available PPE Tracking for COVID-19, as well as the tables PPE Days On Hand and Patient Census.

2021-07-16_Michiganoverview_Covidvaccinestats, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Vaccine Data

The COVID Vaccine Dashboard page was obtained from Michigan's main COVID-19 page: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98178_103214-547150--,00.html.

Previously reported numbers of administered vaccine doses may change as new data are received. A possible lag in reporting vaccine doses will result in increases in numbers previously reported.

This report is created by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Division of Immunization from data reported to the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR).

The dashboard contained the tabs Vaccines Delivered, Delivery Trend, Doses Administered, Doses by Vaccine, Doses Metrics, Coverage, Coverage Metrics, State Level Metrics, Enrolled …

2021-07-16_Michiganoverview_Covidstats, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Cumulative Michigan COVID-19 Data

The COVID Overview page was obtained from Michigan's main COVID-19 page: https:/www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98163-520743--,00.html.

The State of Michigan is working around the clock to test and treat COVID-19 patients. Below is the most recent data healthcare experts across the state have compiled. It is updated Tuesday and Friday.
This report is provisional and subject to change. City of Detroit and Wayne County are reported separately. MDHHS began tracking probable cases April 5, 2020. FCI indicates federal correctional institute. MDOC indicates Michigan Department of Corrections. Diagnostic tests, including nucleic acid amplification/real-time polymerase chain reaction (NAAT/RT-PCR) and rapid virus antigen detection point of …

High-Density Blood Transcriptomics Reveals Precision Immune Signatures Of Sars-Cov-2 Infection In Hospitalized Individuals, Jeremy W. Prokop, Nicholas L. Hartog, Dave Chesla, William Faber

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

The immune response to COVID-19 infection is variable. How COVID-19 influences clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients needs to be understood through readily obtainable biological materials, such as blood. We hypothesized that a high-density analysis of host (and pathogen) blood RNA in hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 would provide mechanistic insights into the heterogeneity of response amongst COVID-19 patients when combined with advanced multidimensional bioinformatics for RNA. We enrolled 36 hospitalized COVID-19 patients (11 died) and 15 controls, collecting 74 blood PAXgene RNA tubes at multiple timepoints, one early and in 23 patients after treatment with various therapies. Total RNAseq was performed …

Thriving In Student Affairs Professionals: An Exploration Of Supporting Constructs, Shawn Brodie, Phillip Campbell, Gretchen Day Fricke, Kawanna Leggett, Norris Manning

Dissertations

Student affairs professionals provide vital services to college students while also facing various challenges that impact their ability to thrive at work. This study examined overall thriving, its constructs and a set of predictors that impact thriving in student affairs professionals. Seligman’s (PERMA) theory of thriving provided the conceptual foundation for this study. Understanding the constructs that support thriving for student affairs professionals will help institutional leaders and professional organizations develop work environments and strategies that promote thriving. A global pandemic occurred during the time of this research, allowing exploration of how COVID-19 impacted thriving. This study also included variables …

Examining The Factors Influencing The Mobile Learning Usage During Covid-19 Pandemic: An Integrated Sem-Ann Method, Khadija Alhumaid, Mohammed Habes, Said A. Salloum

All Works

The way in which the emotion of fear affects the technology adoption of students and teachers amid the COVID-19 pandemic is examined in this study. Mobile Learning (ML) has been used in the study as an educational social platform at both public and private higher-education institutes. The key hypotheses of this study are based on how COVID-19 has influenced the incorporation of mobile learning (ML) as the pandemic brings about an increase in different kinds of fear. The major kinds of fear that students and teachers/instructors are facing at this time include: fear because of complete lockdown, fear of experiencing …

Reducing Covid-19 Quarantine With Sars-Cov-2 Testing: A Simulation Study, Bo Peng, Wen Zhou, Rowland W Pettit, Patrick Yu, Peter G Matos, Alexander L Greninger, Julie Mccashin, Christopher I Amos

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 testing on shortening the duration of quarantines for COVID-19 and to identify the most effective choices of testing schedules.

DESIGN: We performed extensive simulations to evaluate the performance of quarantine strategies when one or more SARS-CoV-2 tests were administered during the quarantine. Simulations were based on statistical models for the transmissibility and viral loads of SARS-CoV-2 infections and the sensitivities of available testing methods. Sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of perturbations in model assumptions on the outcomes of optimal strategies.

RESULTS: We found that SARS-CoV-2 testing can effectively reduce the …

Adaptations To Early Intervention Service Delivery During Covid-19, Lauren Little, Ashley Stoffel

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Early Intervention (EI) systems made a rapid shift to telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the limited preparation of EI providers in the telehealth service delivery model, it is unclear how providers implemented adaptations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factor structure of the Service Delivery Adaptations Questionnaire and examine the influence of provider type, years of EI experience, and willingness to return to in-person services on the questionnaire’s subscales.

Method: We used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to examine the structure of the Service Delivery Adaptations Questionnaire among n = 704 EI providers. We …

2021-07-15_Michiganoverview_Misc, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 MIS-C Data

The MIS-C Data page was obtained from Michigan's COVID-19 data page: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98163_98173_104661---,00.html.

This report is created by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services from data self-reported by health care providers and local health departments. Data is updated on the first and third Thursdays of the month.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a condition in children and adolescents under 21 years of age where multiple organ systems become inflamed or dysfunctional which occurs in association with illness. Children with MIS-C may have a fever and various symptoms, including abdominal (gut) pain, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, …

Choosing Readings: Portuguese Academic Library Users' Preferences For Printed Books Or E-Books, Tatiana Sanches, Luiza Baptista Melo, Isabel Sá, Célia Cruz

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

The emergence of e-books as resources of scientific information in university libraries has been imposing at the pace of technology, with advantages such as portability, cost or accessibility, assuming that e-reading is being well received and appropriated by library users, who can access scientific information from anywhere. However, recent studies from prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, pointed to the resurgence of paper reading preferences. This study analyses the behavioural trends in the use of scientific information from these two media: printed books and e-books and the way university libraries users choose to use it, particularly in the pandemic context. To …

Understanding Covid-19 Dynamics And The Effects Of Interventions In The Philippines: A Mathematical Modelling Study, Jamie M. Caldwell, Elvira P. De Lara-Tuprio, Timothy Robin Y. Teng, Ma. Regina Justina E. Estuar, Raymond Francis R. Sarmiento, Milinda Abayawardana B. Eng, Robert Neil F. Leong, Richard T. Gray, James G. Wood, Linh-Vi Le, Emma S. Mcbryde, Romain Ragonnet, James M. Trauer

Mathematics Faculty Publications

Background

COVID-19 initially caused less severe outbreaks in many low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) compared with many high-income countries; possibly because of differing demographics; socioeconomics; surveillance; and policy responses. Here; we investigate the role of multiple factors on COVID-19 dynamics in the Philippines; a LMIC that has had a relatively severe COVID-19 outbreak.

Methods

We applied an age-structured compartmental model that incorporated time-varying mobility; testing; and personal protective behaviors (through a “Minimum Health Standards” policy; MHS) to represent the first wave of the Philippines COVID-19 epidemic nationally and for three highly affected regions (Calabarzon; Central Visayas; and the National Capital …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Utah Women And Work: Caregiver Experiences, Marin Christensen, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020–21 has affected workers across the globe, and women in the workforce have been disproportionately impacted, including those who live in Utah. The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah reported that from 2019 to 2020, jobs held by women declined at a rate more than double that of men, and unemployment rose more for females than males. One major reason for these discrepancies is likely the disproportionate burden women have carried for childcare and homeschooling children as daycare facilities and schools have been closed in efforts to curb the spread of the …

Severe Covid-19 Is Characterized By An Impaired Type I Interferon Response And Elevated Levels Of Arginase Producing Granulocytic Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells, Matthew J. Dean, Juan B. Ochoa, Maria Dulfary Sanchez-Pino, Jovanny Zabaleta, Jone Garai, Luis Del Valle, Dorota Wyczechowska, Lyndsey Buckner Baiamonte, Phaethon Philbrook, Rinku Majumder, Richard S. Vander Heide, Logan Dunkenberger, Ramesh Puttalingaiah Thylur, Bobby Nossaman, W. Mark Roberts, Andrew G. Chapple, Jiande Wu, Chindo Hicks, Jack Collins, Brian Luke

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

COVID-19 ranges from asymptomatic in 35% of cases to severe in 20% of patients. Differences in the type and degree of inflammation appear to determine the severity of the disease. Recent reports show an increase in circulating monocytic-myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSC) in severe COVID 19 that deplete arginine but are not associated with respiratory complications. Our data shows that differences in the type, function and transcriptome of granulocytic-MDSC (G-MDSC) may in part explain the severity COVID-19, in particular the association with pulmonary complications. Large infiltrates by Arginase 1+ G-MDSC (Arg+G-MDSC), expressing NOX-1 and NOX-2 (important for production of reactive oxygen …

Cultural And Linguistic Struggles And Solidarities Of Emirati Learners In Online Classes During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Sarah Hopkyns

All Works

The ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented shifts in higher education worldwide, with some nations more adversely affected than others. Since the onset of the crisis, almost all education abruptly moved to ‘emergency remote teaching and learning’. While the United Arab Emirates has been praised for its swift and effective responses, unique cultural and linguistic dynamics in this region present additional challenges for teaching and learning. This article presents empirical data from a qualitative phenomenological case study investigating female Emirati university students’ ( n = 69) perspectives on the use of video cameras and microphones in online classes. Students’ …

Health Service Experiences And Preferences Of Frail Home Care Clients And Their Family And Friend Caregivers During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Lori E. Weeks, Sue Nesto, Bradley Hiebert, Grace Warner, Wendy Luciano, Kathleen Ledoux, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan

Publications

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a major upheaval in the lives of older adults and their family/friend caregivers, including those utilizing home care services. In this article, we focus on results from a qualitative component added to a pragmatic randomized controlled trial that focuses on the experiences of our study participants during COVID-19. A total of 29 participants responded to the COVID-19 related questions focused on their health services experiences and preferences from March-June 2020 including 10 home care clients and 19 family/friend caregivers in the provinces of Ontario and Nova Scotia, Canada. RESULTS: Many participants were affected …

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Used In Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome With Covid-19: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Novia Kusumawardhani, Ivana Purnama Dewi, Budi Baktijasa Dharmadjati

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Introduction: Protective pulmonary mechanical ventilation, higher positive end-expiratory pressure, neuromuscular blockade, prone positioning, and pulmonary recruitment procedures are all strategies in severe COVID-19 cases. Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) can be seen as an alternative to traditional treatment in certain patients when conventional therapy fails. We present a study that intends to systematically review and meta-analysis ECMO use in COVID-19 patients.

Methods: We search major medical databases (Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, MedRxiv) for clinical trials that were released between January 2020 until February 2021, had full-text availability, were written in English, and humans studies.

We used National Heart, Lung, and Blood …

2021-07-13_Michigandaily_Covidmap, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Daily Michigan COVID-19 Update

The "WHERE WE STAND WITH COVID-19" map was obtained from Michigan's main COVID-19 page: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus. Data was compiled by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The information was updated daily at 3p.m., Monday - Saturday.

The State of Michigan is working around the clock to test and treat COVID-19 patients. Below is the most recent data healthcare experts across the state have compiled.

The image contained a map, indicating total cases by county, and also provides statistics on Total Confirmed Cases, Total COVID-19 Deaths, Daily Confirmed Cases, and Daily COVID-19 Deaths. There …

2021-07-13_Michiganoverview_Covidbedppe, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Hospital Data

Contains the tables Statewide Hospital Capacity Report for COVID-19, COVID-19 Metrics, Statewide Hospital Available PPE Tracking for COVID-19, as well as the tables PPE Days On Hand and Patient Census.

2021-07-13_Michiganoverview_Covidlongtermcare, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Long Term Care Data

The COVID Long Term Care Facilities page was obtained from Michigan's COVID-19 data page: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98163_98173-526911--,00.html.

This report is created by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services from data self-reported by long-term care facilities into EMResource. Data for all reporting facilities is posted weekly each Monday.

The information below represents COVID-19 data reported directly to MDHHS by licensed and operating Skilled Nursing, Home for the Aged and Adult Foster Care facilities (licensed to serve 13 or more individuals) in Michigan from January 1, 2020. All long-term care facilities additionally have an obligation to report COVID-positive residents and/or staff …

2021-07-13_Michiganoverview_Covidstats, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Cumulative Michigan COVID-19 Data

The COVID Overview page was obtained from Michigan's main COVID-19 page: https:/www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98163-520743--,00.html.

The State of Michigan is working around the clock to test and treat COVID-19 patients. Below is the most recent data healthcare experts across the state have compiled. It is updated Tuesday and Friday.
This report is provisional and subject to change. City of Detroit and Wayne County are reported separately. MDHHS began tracking probable cases April 5, 2020. FCI indicates federal correctional institute. MDOC indicates Michigan Department of Corrections. Diagnostic tests, including nucleic acid amplification/real-time polymerase chain reaction (NAAT/RT-PCR) and rapid virus antigen detection point of …

2021-07-13_Michiganoverview_Covidcounts, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Confirmed Cases by Date of Onset Data

Data was downloaded as an Excel spreadsheet which appeared in the Public Use Datasets section under the Cumulative Data link of Michigan's Coronavirus webpage, under the url https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98163_98173---,00.html.

Cases are aggregated by the date of onset of COVID-19 symptoms, if known, otherwise by laboratory specimen date if known, otherwise by case referral date. Deaths are aggregated by the date of death if known, otherwise by the last date of a change to the case status.

2021-07-13_Michiganoverview_Covidsymptoms, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Syndromic Surveillance System Data

The Syndromic Surveillance System Data report was obtained from Michigan's COVID-19 dashboard, from under the link "​Coronavirus Symptoms": https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus. Data was compiled by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The information was updated twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Syndromic Surveillance System data is obtained from approximately 183 facilities participating in syndromic surveillance (132 Emergency Departments (ED), 51 Urgent Cares) across the State of Michigan. The reporting is based on individuals who present at EDs and may not be representative of the overall population. The coronavirus-like symptoms query searches visit free-text (chief complaint, triage notes, …