Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Sexual Orientation Disparities Regarding The Interplay Of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Self-Reported Diabetes Status, And Depression Among Adults In The United States

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Previous research has revealed a strong link between the experience of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and diabetes in adulthood. Moreover, research has shown that sexual minorities (SM) are exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) (i.e. CSA) and experience depression at higher rates than their heterosexual counterparts. Thus, it is imperative to further investigate the role of depression and the differential associations of exposure to ACEs with diabetes prevalence by sexual orientation. We explored sexual orientation disparities regarding the relationship between CSA and diabetes and examined the moderating role of depression. A total of 29,903 participants from the 2021 Behavioral Risk …

Work As A Social Determinant Of Maternal Health: A Qualitative Exploration Of College-Educated Black Women’S Experiences At Work During Pregnancy And Postpartum, Kaiya A Farris

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Black women are disproportionately impacted by higher rates of maternal mortality in the United States (US). Limited research has focused on adverse maternal health outcomes among college-educated Black women, although research has found these outcomes persistent among this population.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to fill a critical gap in current research by elucidating the nuanced experiences of college-educated Black women in the workplace during pregnancy and postpartum. By exploring this under-researched area, our study contributes to the academic discourse on Black maternal health disparities within the scope of occupational health. It offers practical insights for enhancing workplace gender equity, …

It Is Time To Screen For Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia In The United States, Sarah De Ferranti, Lisa Hudgins, Allison Jamison, Mary P Mcgowan, Amy L Peterson, Robert D Steiner, Melissa K Uveges, Yunshu Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is an ultra-rare inherited condition that affects approximately one in 300,000 people. The disorder is characterized by extremely high, life-threatening levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol from birth, leading to significant premature cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, if left untreated.

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is severely underdiagnosed and undertreated in the United States (US), despite guidelines recommendations for universal pediatric lipid screening in children aged 9–11. Early diagnosis and adequate treatment are critical in averting premature cardiovascular disease in individuals affected by HoFH. Yet, an unacceptably high number of people living with HoFH remain undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, and/or receive …

Anemia, Iron Deficiency, And Cause-Specific Mortality: The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities Study, Iman A F Aboelsaad, Christie M Ballantyne, John Leister, James S Pankow, Pamela L Lutsey

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Anemia is a risk factor for all-cause mortality in older adults. Iron deficiency may also be associated with adverse outcomes, independent of its role in causing anemia. This study tested the hypotheses that anemia, and low ferritin among non-anemic participants, were associated with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a community-based cohort of older adults.

Methods: Fasting blood was obtained from 5,070 ARIC participants (median age: 75 years) in 2011-2013. Anemia was defined by hemoglobin concentrations < 12 g/dL in women and < 13 g/dL in men. We classified 4,020 non-anemic participants by quartiles of plasma ferritin, measured by the SomaScan proteomics platform. Cox proportional hazards regression was used. Mortality was ascertained via phone calls with proxies as part of twice-yearly cohort follow-up, surveillance of local hospital discharge indexes, state death records, and linkage to the National Death Index.

Results: Of the total participants, 21% had anemia at baseline. Over a median of 7.5 years, there were 1,147 deaths, including 357 due to …

Trends In Cardiovascular Disease-Related Mortality In Texas, Mahboob Alam, Vijay Nambi, Layla A Abushamat, Arunima Misra, Salim S Virani, Christie M Ballantyne, George E Taffet, Khurram Nasir, Sachin Goel, Sadeer Al-Kindi, Javed Butler, Abdul Mannan Khan Minhas

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is associated with high mortality in the United States, but the burden of CVD mortality is unevenly distributed between demographic and geographic subgroups, with poor characterization of state-specific trends. In this study, the disparities in CVD-related mortality trends in Texas and the United States from 1999 to 2019 were assessed.

METHODS: Trends in CVD-related mortality were evaluated through analysis of the Multiple Causes of Death Files from the National Center for Health Statistics. Crude and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 100,000 population with associated annual percentage changes were determined. Joinpoint regression was used to assess trends …

Prospective Associations Of Psychedelic Treatment For Co-Occurring Alcohol Misuse And Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Among United States Special Operations Forces Veterans, Martín Polanco, Lynnette A Averill, Alan K Davis

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This study evaluated prospective associations of ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT treatment for risky alcohol use and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among United States (US) Special Operations Forces Veterans (SOFV). Data were collected during standard clinical operations at pre-treatment and 1-month (1 m), 3-months (3 m), and 6-months (6 m) post-treatment in an ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT treatment program in Mexico. Of the 86 SOFV that completed treatment, 45 met criteria for risky alcohol use at pre-treatment (mean age = 44; male = 100%; White = 91%). There was a significant reduction in alcohol use from pre-treatment (M = 7.2, SD = …

Harm Reduction In Undergraduate And Graduate Medical Education: A Systematic Scoping Review, Kelsey R. Smith, Nina K. Shah, Abby L. Adamczyk, Lara C. Weinstein, Erin L. Kelly

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Substance use increasingly contributes to early morbidity and mortality, which necessitates greater preparation of the healthcare workforce to mitigate its harm. The purpose of this systematic scoping review is to: 1) review published curricula on harm reduction for substance use implemented by undergraduate (UME) and graduate medical education (GME) in the United States and Canada, 2) develop a framework to describe a comprehensive approach to harm reduction medical education, and 3) propose additional content topics for future consideration.

METHODS: PubMed, Scopus, ERIC: Education Resources Information Center (Ovid), and MedEdPORTAL were searched. Studies included any English language curricula about harm …

Ypfs Lessons Learned Oral History Project: An Interview With Michele Davis, Michele Davis, Mercedes Cardona

Documents

No abstract provided.

Haitian Climate Migrants: Heralds Of The United States’ Unprepared Immigration System, Noah Rust

University of Miami Inter-American Law Review

This note explores the complex relationship between climate change and Human migration, and the ensuing complications for the United States immigration scheme. Climate change can both directly and indirectly contribute to human migration, yet the United States’ regulatory scheme is unprepared for this reality and its consequences. Through analyzing several separate migratory events in Haiti, the specific failures of the United States status quo immigration systems become clearer. Further, the note will identify frameworks that could offer relief to climate-related migrants.

The Intersection Of Foreign Influence And Democratization: A Case Study Of Eurasian Powers Influence On Belarus’ Democratic Movement Since 2020, Dalton Xavier Maggs

Undergraduate Honors Theses

In 2020, the world took notice of Belarus’ dictator, Alexander Lukashenko’s brutal repression of the Belarusian people, demonstrating their wish to topple his hybrid authoritarian regime to make way for a liberated and democratic Belarus. While that wish has yet to be achieved, the question of “How do the regional powers of Eurasia influence the internal democratization struggle of Belarus?” has been vital to understanding geopolitics over the past three years. Through analysis of government reports, statements, and interviews with experts in the Eurasian region, I showcase the foreign policies of the U.S., EU, Russia, and China relating to Belarus. …

Role Of Sex In The Association Of Socioeconomic Status With Cardiovascular Health In Black Americans: The Jackson Heart Study, Joshua J Joseph, Amaris Williams, Rosevine A Azap, Songzhu Zhao, Guy Brock, David Kline, James B Odei, Randi Foraker, Mario Sims, Laprincess C Brewer, Darrell M Gray Ii, Timiya S Nolan

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with cardiovascular health (CVH). Potential differences by sex in this association remain incompletely understood in Black Americans, where SES disparities are posited to be partially responsible for cardiovascular inequities. The association of SES measures (income, education, occupation, and insurance) with CVH scores was examined in the Jackson Heart Study.

METHODS AND RESULTS: American Heart Association CVH components (non-high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure, diet, tobacco use, physical activity, sleep, glycemia, and body mass index) were scored cross-sectionally at baseline (scale: 0-100). Differences in CVH and 95% CIs (Estimate, 95% CI) were calculated using linear regression, adjusting …

Associations Between Self-Reported Cognitive Decline And Chronic Diseases: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (Brfss) 2022, Hailey Child

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Objective: This study seeks to capture how self-reports measure cognitive decline. The association between chronic conditions and cognition with age consideration in individuals aged 45 and older is investigated.

Methods: Univariate analysis generates frequencies and weighted percentages of 2022 BRFSS data. Chi-square tests and polytomous regressions generate odds ratios for bivariate analyses. A weighted multiple logistic regression model stratified by age group analyzes self-reported cognitive decline.

Results: Respondents ages 45 to 54 with three or more chronic diseases have the highest odds (OR = 6.81; 95% CI = 4.42, 10.48) of cognitive decline. Respondents 75 and older …

Psychological Effects Of Immigration: A Comprehensive Review Exploring Social Identity, Acculturation And The Effects Of Cultural Attitudes And Systemic Factors On The Well-Being Of Immigrants, Huda Abu Nasab

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Immigration is a life-altering experience that can greatly affect an individual's identity, sense of belongingness, and well-being. The United States is known as a nation of immigrants; however, many immigrants have faced challenges related to assimilation and the development of their social identities in a new society. For example, immigration challenges often include adapting to a new culture, learning a different language, and navigating unfamiliar healthcare and educational systems. There are many factors that influence how immigrants adjust in their host country, such as acculturation challenges, cultural attitudes towards immigrants, and the availability of essential resources. This literature review aims …

Exposure To Climate Change Information Predicts Public Support For Solar Geoengineering In Singapore And The United States, Sonny Rosenthal, Peter J. Irvine, Christopher L. Cummings, Shirley S. Ho

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Solar geoengineering is a controversial climate policy measure that could lower global temperature by increasing the amount of light reflected by the Earth. As scientists and policymakers increasingly consider this idea, an understanding of the level and drivers of public support for its research and potential deployment will be key. This study focuses on the role of climate change information in public support for research and deployment of stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) in Singapore (n = 503) and the United States (n = 505). Findings were consistent with the idea that exposure to information underlies support for research and deployment. …

Possible Futures For Colonial Collecting Institutions: A Study Of Historical Societies In The United States, Jen Hoyer

Publications and Research

This article explores how collecting institutions with deeply colonial roots can move into a decolonial future existence, through an in-depth study of historical societies in the United States. Examining their historic roots in colonialism of the United States and the persistence of these colonial identities in spite of a variety of evolutionary trends over the 20th century, this article asks: what decolonial possibilities exist for their future? If institutional shifts have not undone the colonial identities of some collecting institutions, what can? Turning to Sarah Ahmed’s theory on queer use and Saidiya Hartman’s method of critical fabulation, I suggest practical …

Impact Of Routine Urine Cultures On Antibiotic Usage In Those Undergoing A Routine Annual Spinal Cord Injury Evaluation, Ivy Poon, S Ann Holmes, Charlesnika T Evans, Barbara W Trautner, Felicia Skelton

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the largest single provider of spinal cord injury and disorder (SCI/D) care in the United States, currently mandates that every patient receives a screening urine culture during the annual evaluation, a yearly comprehensive history and physical examination. This testing has shown in a small subset of patients to overidentify asymptomatic bacteriuria that is then inappropriately treated with antibiotics. The objective of the current analysis was to assess the association of the annual evaluation on urine testing and antibiotic treatment in a national sample of Veterans with SCI/D.

DESIGN/METHOD: A retrospective cohort study using national …

Virginia Coastal Master Plan, Co-Ops, Ocm

Benefits of Ocean Observing Catalog (BOOC)

NOAA Office:OCM

Duration of Use Case:Complete

Link to Case:https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/crmp/plan

Geographic Location:

Is the Use Case Published?No

Primary Use:Coastal Resiliance

Which Marine Industries Benefit from the case:Ports, Coastal Infrastructure

Case Benefits:The data helped the state of Virginia, it’s regional planning entities, localities, and stakeholders understand how flooding will change, and the associated risk to communities, infrastructure, natural and social receptors. The information provides a strong foundation to justify continued investments in coastal resilience to protect the quality of life and economy of Virginia communities.

Description:For the development of the Virginia Coastal Resilience Master …

Breaking The Loop: Strategies For Fighting Climate Change On U.S. Farms, Ashley Barry

Honors Capstones

Climate change is an increasingly urgent area of research due to the hardships it causes for lands and communities across the globe. Specifically in regard to the United States (U.S.), climate change has many concerning implications on our agricultural system. Increased weather hazards, decreased crop production, and drought are just a few of the hardships American farmers are facing in their fight to keep their farms alive and feed their communities, despite a rapidly changing climate. This study investigates how farmers can fight and prevent climate change through the use of specific mitigation and adaptation strategies on their farms. Semi- …

Innovation Process And Industrial System Of Us Food And Drug Administration-Approved Software As A Medical Device: Review And Content Analysis, Jiakan Yu, Jiajie Zhang, Shintaro Sengoku

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: There has been a surge in academic and business interest in software as a medical device (SaMD). SaMD enables medical professionals to streamline existing medical practices and make innovative medical processes such as digital therapeutics a reality. Furthermore, SaMD is a billion-dollar market. However, SaMD is not clearly understood as a technological change and emerging industry.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to review the landscape of SaMD in response to increasing interest in SaMD within health systems and regulation. The objectives of the study are to (1) clarify the innovation process of SaMD, (2) identify the prevailing typology of such …

Concussion Exposure And Suicidal Ideation, Planning, And Attempts Among Us High School Students, Jacob J. Kay, Colt A. Coffman, Adam Harrison, Abbas S. Tavakoli Drph, Mph, Me, Toni Torres-Mcgehee Phd, Lat, Atc, Steven P. Broglio, Robert Davis Moore Ms, Ph.D.

Publications

CONTEXT: Interest is growing in the association between repetitive concussions and mental health. However, studies on the relationship between concussion frequency and adverse mental health outcomes among female and male youth are lacking. OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between self-reported concussion frequency and nonfatal suicidal behaviors among youth and to explore the possible interaction of biological sex. DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional survey. SETTING: National Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: United States secondary school students (N = 28 442). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Exposure variables were the frequency of self-reported sport- or recreation-related concussion in the previous 12 months …

The Gift That Never Stops Giving: A Comparison Of Us Aide And Reconstruction In Afghanistan, Post-War Europe, And Ukraine, John Chadwick Canty Jr.

Washington Semester Program

This research paper seeks to add to the rich historiography of US foreign aid and interventions abroad by examining both the aid given during the war in Afghanistan and the Marshall Plan. Afghanistan saw $2 trillion spent on programs seemingly without clearly defined aims and which collapsed within 11 days in 2021. On the other hand, the Marshall Plan economically resuscitated a Western Europe devastated by the Second World War. Dissecting these two cases will allow the author to understand where the money went, what the aims of the aid were, how it was disbursed, and whether or not the …

The Modern And Historical Roots Of Inequality, Lukas Althoff

Dissertation Awards

This dissertation studies inequality in the access to opportunity in America over the past 150 years, including the impact of pivotal policies and institutions.

In Chapter 1, Hugo Reichardt and I study the long-run effects of anti-Black institutions —from slavery to Jim Crow—on Black Americans’ economic outcomes. I trace each family’s records from 1850 to 2000 to measure their exposure to those institutions. I show that Black families whose ancestors were enslaved until the Civil War have considerably lower education, income, and wealth today than families whose ancestors were free earlier. The disparities between the two groups have persisted because …

Review Of Generic Scenario Environmental Release And Occupational Exposure Models Used In Chemical Risk Assessment, William M Barrett, David E Meyer, Raymond L Smith, Sudhakar Takkellapati, Michael A Gonzalez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is required to determine whether a new chemical substance poses an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment before the chemical is manufactured in or imported into the United States. This manuscript provides a review of the process used to evaluate the risk associated with a chemical based on the scenarios and models used in the evaluation. Specifically, the Generic Scenarios and Emission Scenario Documents developed by the USEPA were reviewed, along with background documentation prepared by USEPA to identify the core elements of the …

Real-World Utilization Of An Intrauterine, Vacuum-Induced, Hemorrhage-Control Device., Dena Goffman, Kara M Rood, Angela Bianco, Joseph R Biggio, Paul Dietz, Kelly Drake, Erica Heilman, Maeve Hopkins, Monique De Four Jones, Tyler Katz, Courtney Martin, Mona Prasad, Marcela C Smid, Kathryn D Wine, Robert Ryan, Candice Yong, Patricia I Carney, Hyagriv N Simhan

Women’s Health Articles

OBJECTIVE: To assess the real-world effectiveness and safety of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared intrauterine vacuum-induced-hemorrhage control device for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) management.

METHODS: Sixteen centers in the United States participated in this observational, postmarket registry medical record review (October 2020 through March 2022). The primary effectiveness outcome was treatment success , defined as bleeding control after insertion with no treatment escalation or bleeding recurrence. Additional outcomes included blood loss, time to device insertion, indwelling time, bleeding recurrence, and time to bleeding control. Treatment success and severe maternal morbidity measures (transfusion of 4 or more units of red …

Flow-Sizing Critical Care Resources, Joseph L Nates, John M Oropello, Neeraj Badjatia, Gregory Beilman, Craig M Coopersmith, Neil A Halpern, Daniel L Herr, Judith Jacobi, Roozehra Kahn, Sharon Leung, Nitin Puri, Ayan Sen, Stephen M Pastores

Staff and Researcher Publications

Objectives: To describe the factors affecting critical care capacity and how critical care organizations (CCOs) within academic centers in the U.S. flow-size critical care resources under normal operations, strain, and surge conditions.

Data sources: PubMed, federal agency and American Hospital Association reports, and previous CCO survey results were reviewed.

Study selection: Studies and reports of critical care bed capacity and utilization within CCOs and in the United States were selected.

Data extraction: The Academic Leaders in the Critical Care Medicine Task Force established regular conference calls to reach a consensus on the approach of CCOs to "flow-sizing" critical care services. …

Google Search Trends To Assess Public Interest In And Concern About Vuity For Treating Presbyopia, Taku Wakabayashi, Hana A. Mansour, Robert Abishek, Jayanth Sridhar, Michael N. Cohen, David Xu, Jordan Deaner, Yoshihiro Yonekawa, Jason Hsu, Ajay E. Kuriyan

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: To assess public awareness, interest, and concerns regarding Vuity (1.25% pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution), an eye drop for the treatment of presbyopia, based on Google Trends.

METHODS: We used Google Trends that provides a relative search volume for queried terms, to evaluate searches for Vuity from June 30, 2021, to June 30, 2022, in the United States. The data for this study were downloaded on June 30, 2022. Main outcome measures were changes in relative search volumes for the terms "Vuity," "Eye drops for reading," "Eye drops for near vision," "Presbyopia," "Pilocarpine," and related popular search terms, such as …

Criminalization Of Environmental Harms In Bangladesh And The United States, Md Lokman Hussain

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores and compares the nature, features, and measures of criminalization of environmental harms in Bangladesh and United States. The exploration is based on the descriptive and analytical comparison of the legal frameworks addressing the environmental harms in these two countries. To explore how are environmental harms criminalized in Bangladesh and United States, following aspects were described and compared: the criminalizing power of the state, criminalization of environmental harms regarding air pollution, water pollution, protection of biodiversity, waste management, and use of pesticide, theoretical frameworks in explaining criminalization, role of constitution and international law.

U.S. Adolescent Rest-Activity Patterns: Insights From Functional Principal Component Analysis (Nhanes 2011–2014), Chris Ho Ching Yeung, Jiachen Lu, Erica G Soltero, Cici Bauer, Qian Xiao

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Suboptimal rest-activity patterns in adolescence are associated with worse health outcomes in adulthood. Understanding sociodemographic factors associated with rest-activity rhythms may help identify subgroups who may benefit from interventions. This study aimed to investigate the association of rest-activity rhythm with demographic and socioeconomic characteristics in adolescents.

Methods: Using cross-sectional data from the nationally representative National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014 adolescents (N = 1814), this study derived rest-activity profiles from 7-day 24-hour accelerometer data using functional principal component analysis. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the association between participant characteristics and rest-activity profiles. Weekday and weekend …

Us Adolescent Rest-Activity Patterns: Insights From Functional Principal Component Analysis (Nhanes 2011-2014), Qian Xiao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Suboptimal rest-activity patterns in adolescence are associated with worse health outcomes in adulthood. Understanding sociodemographic factors associated with rest-activity rhythms may help identify subgroups who may benefit from interventions. This study aimed to investigate the association of rest-activity rhythm with demographic and socioeconomic characteristics in adolescents.

METHODS: Using cross-sectional data from the nationally representative National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014 adolescents (N = 1814), this study derived rest-activity profiles from 7-day 24-hour accelerometer data using functional principal component analysis. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the association between participant characteristics and rest-activity profiles. Weekday and weekend …

Was Covid-19 Associated With Worsening Inequities In Stroke Treatment And Outcomes?, Laurent G Glance, Curtis G Benesch, Karen E Joynt Maddox, Matthew T Bender, Jingjing Shang, Patricia W Stone, Stewart J Lustik, Jacob W Nadler, Christopher Galton, Andrew W Dick

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Background COVID-19 stressed hospitals and may have disproportionately affected the stroke outcomes and treatment of Black and Hispanic individuals. Methods and Results This retrospective study used 100% Medicare Provider Analysis and Review file data from between 2016 and 2020. We used interrupted time series analyses to examine whether the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated disparities in stroke outcomes and reperfusion therapy. Among 1 142 560 hospitalizations for acute ischemic strokes, 90 912 (8.0%) were Hispanic individuals; 162 752 (14.2%) were non-Hispanic Black individuals; and 888 896 (77.8%) were non-Hispanic White individuals. The adjusted odds of mortality increased by 51% (adjusted odds ratio …