Digital Commons Network^™

An Interprofessional Simulation To Address Health Misinformation And Vaccine Hesitancy, Sara W. Nelson, Leah Mallory, Shelly Cohen Konrad, Emily K. Dornblaser, Stephanie D. Nichols, Jennifer Hayman

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: The complexity of contemporary health care delivery underscores the need for future health care professionals to be adept at working in interprofessional teams and effectively managing the growing issue of medical misinformation. However, current health curricula often lack content on misinformation and have few, if any, opportunities for students to practice addressing misinformation with patients and colleagues.

Methods: To address this gap, our cross-institutional team developed a novel interprofessional simulation exercise and accompanying prework toolkit designed to develop communication skills for managing difficult conversations about COVID-19 misinformation. Ten third-year medical and 10 third-year pharmacy students piloted the toolkit and …

The Commonly Uncommon Presentation Of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: A Case Report, Elizabeth Piwowarski, Kalyan Mantha, Martin Wegman

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is notoriously misdiagnosed as more benign etiologies during the initial examination owing to its relative rarity, its wide variety of presenting symptoms and onset and progression patterns, and its frequent requirement for less commonly utilized imaging techniques in its diagnosis. Accordingly, most cases are identified only after repeated evaluations for symptom persistence or progression, or in cases involving prothrombotic states linked to the disease, such as pregnancy, puerperium, genetic or acquired thrombophilia, and infection.

Case Presentation

We present the case of a 29-year-old woman with a history of obesity and oral contraceptive use who was …

Unique Presentation Of Vertebral Artery Dissection: A Case Report, Rossen I. Kirkov, Daniel Fisher

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Vertebral artery dissection (VAD) is a common cause of stroke within the younger patient population. It is usually associated with headache or neck pain, as well as signs and symptoms of a posterior circulation stroke, such as vertigo, dysarthria, and ataxia. However, there are very scarce reports of patients with this pathology presenting with focal neurologic deficits, which are more indicative of a cerebral stroke.

Case Presentation

This case involves a 46-year-old woman who presented to the emergency department (ED) with complaints of right-sided headache and neck pain, which had been ongoing for 1 week, with newly developed right …

Covid-19 Vaccine-Induced Rhabdomyolysis In A 53-Year-Old Woman, Akash Hazari, Jack Chien, Daniel Nunez

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

COVID-19-induced rhabdomyolysis is a common complication in COVID-19 infection. However, only a handful of cases have been reported showing links between COVID-19 vaccine and rhabdomyolysis.

Case Presentation

We present the case of a 53-year-old woman, who recently received COVID-19 vaccine and presented to the hospital with progressive extremity weakness. Common reasons for rhabdomyolysis were ruled out as possibility and the patient was found to have rhabdomyolysis induced from COVID-19 vaccine.

Conclusion

Even though COVID-19 vaccine-induced rhabdomyolysis is rare, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis with patients presenting with neuromuscular complaints and a recent COVID-19 vaccine.

Automated Dispensing Cabinet Stocking Schedule And Inventory Management Optimization, Daniel Elkes, Victoria Timmons

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Prior practice in a 523-bed community hospital required automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) to be replenished daily by early afternoon to ensure accurate drug ordering. Because of the tight time window, technicians frequently refilled ADCs during peak medication administration times. After a positive report from a smaller facility in the health system, the study facility implemented a quality improvement project to optimize the ADCs. This involved new processes of every-other-day ADC replenishment staggered via shift-specific workflows, and a dedicated technician was assigned to optimize ADC inventories.

Methods

Monthly reports of ADC refilling and dispensing transactions were compiled from inpatient, nonprocedural …

Beneath The Label - Evaluating The Fda Approval Of Copenhagen Classic Snuff As A Modified Risk Tobacco Product, Yisroel Grabie, Tafani Chowdhury, Sudeep Acharya

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

In this review, we critically evaluate the Food and Drug Administration's modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) status granted to a smokeless tobacco product (March 2023), Copenhagen Classic Snuff (CCS). This new status necessitates an assessment of the product CCS use and its public health impacts. We assess the impact of CCS as it relates to the reduction of lung cancer risk and the potential increased risk for nasopharyngeal cancer, chronic rhinitis, nicotine dependence, and other health hazards. Concerns persist regarding nicotine's harm and public misperception due to risk reclassification, and caution should be maintained to discourage novel snuff users. Advocating …

The Relationship Between Fast Food Consumption And Physical Activity With Primary Dysmenorrhea In Adolescents, Wahyuni Wahyuni

Jurnal Vokasi Indonesia

Background: Menstruation is a bleeding event that occurs when the inner lining of the uterus, known as the endometrium, sheds. Dysmenorrhea is one of the symptoms that teenage girls often feel during menstruation. Dysmenorrhea can affect women's comfort and quality of life. There are two types of dysmenorrhoea, namely primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhoea. Primary dysmenorrhoea refers to the condition of menstrual pain that adolescent girls often experience, with a prevalence rate of 60-90%. Risk factors for primary dysmenorrhoea are influenced by several factors, including fast food intake, physical activity level, stress level, age at first menstruation (menarche), and nutritional …

"What Is Causing This Sinus Tachycardia?", Muhammad Asad Hanif, Nayab Mirza, Jaswanth Jasti

Transformative Medicine

No abstract provided.

Bilateral Patellar Tendon Rupture: Obesity As A Risk Factor, Alyssa Ison, Adam Sigal Md, Gary Canner Md

Transformative Medicine

Introduction
Bilateral patellar tendon rupture is an uncommon presentation in the Emergency Department but can occur in the setting of certain risk factors. Obesity is an independent predisposing condition in which early identification can expedite diagnosis and treatment.

Case Description
We report a case of bilateral patellar tendon rupture in a young male with obesity as the sole risk factor following a low-energy trauma. The patient ruptured his bilateral patellar tendons while jumping up during a basketball game. The diagnosis was made on exam and confirmed with plain radiographs and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Because of the bilateral involvement and inability …

The Utilization Of Basic Oxygen Furnace Slag As Fine Aggregates In Concrete: Physical, Mechanical, And Durability Properties, Hakan Ozkan

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

This study examines the feasibility of using basic oxygen furnace slag (BOFS) as an alternative to fine crushed limestone aggregate in concrete. BOFS is sourced from two steel production facilities in Türkiye, designated as I-BOFS and E-BOFS. The experimental results showed that as the E-BOFS aggregate replacement ratio increased, the water-to-cement (w/c) ratio increased to maintain the target workability. The concrete mixtures incorporating E-BOFS exhibited consistent reductions in the compressive strength with an increase in the BOFS ratio. At the same time, I-BOFS maintained higher compressive strength, with only minor losses up to 80% of the substitution ratio. Flexural strength …

Development Of A Self-Cured Alkali-Activated Mortar, Kübra Ekiz Barış

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Alkali-activated mortars (AAM) can be produced with self-curing (SC), which supplies internal moisture to accelerate alkaline-activation reactions. The aim of using SC is to make AAMs with an early-age strength without any additional curing energy consumption and higher CO2 emissions, and to obtain in-situ practical advantages that enable the large-scale application of AAMs. The previous study produced natural pozzolan-based AAMs by applying energy-intensive heat (HC), microwave (MWC), and hybrid (HC+MWC) curing. This study investigates alternative curing regimes that reduce production energy without compromising material properties. The impacts of air curing (AC), water curing (WC), and SC on the properties were …

Naoh Molarity Effect On Mechanical And Hydrochloric Acid Resistance Of Geopolymer Mortar Based On Slag, Mahmoud Ziada, Zahraa Mohammed Kamil Al-Mayali

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

The present research investigates the influence of different sodium hydroxide (NaOH) molarities on the mechanical characteristics and hydrochloric acid (HCl) resistance of geopolymer grouts manufactured from ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS). Geopolymer mortars have attracted interest as sustainable substitutes for traditional cementitious materials due to their advantageous environmental effects and enhanced durability features. This study involved the fabrication of geopolymer mortar specimens by altering the NaOH molarity (M) from 6 M to 14 M. The mechanical and physical qualities were assessed using compressive strength, capillary water absorption, flexural strength, slump flow, and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) tests. Subsequently, the geopolymer …

Effect Of Expanded Perlite And Exfoliated Vermiculite Aggregate Additives On Water Vapor Permeability Performance Of Cement-Based Lightweight Mortars, Lütfullah Gündüz, Şevket Onur Kalkan

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Vapor diffusion is the movement of water vapor molecules through porous materials such as wood, insulation products, and lightweight wall elements due to differences in vapor pressure. Vapor retarders are used to control vapor diffusion through wall sections and surfaces. All building materials provide some resistance to vapor diffusion, and the amount of resistance varies depending on the material's properties. These properties can vary with relative humidity and moisture content, age, temperature, and other factors. Vapor resistance is usually expressed using the inverse term of ``vapor permeability,'' which is the relative ease of vapor diffusion through a material. Water vapor …

Rubber-Modified Self-Compacting Mortar: Evaluating Setting Time And Strength Development, Navvar Makansi, Süleyman Ipek, Erhan Güneyisi

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

The influence of using crumb rubber (CR) obtained from the second scraping of used tires as fine aggregate in manufacturing self-compacting mortar (SCM) was investigated experimentally in this study. To explore this, natural fine aggregate in SCM mixes was partially replaced with CR at levels ranging from 5% to 25% by total fine aggregate volume. Two mix series, one with a total binder of 500 kg/m3 and the other with a 540 kg/m3 binder, were designed at water-to-binder ratios of 0.40 and 0.33. Ordinary Portland cement (80% by weight) and fly ash (20% by weight) were used to manufacture mortars. …

Identification Of Barriers And Drivers In The Adoption Of Sustainable Construction Practices In The Turkish Construction Industry: Exploratory Factor Analysis, Tülay Çivici, Mustafa Serhan Ünlütürk

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Although the importance of sustainability in the construction industry has been emphasised by many researchers and endorsed by many authorities, it is clear that the practices in the industry still need to be improved. The primary issue for adopting sustainable practices in the construction industry is identifying the barriers and drivers. For this reason, the study analysed the literature to identify the critical barriers and incentives for adopting sustainable practices in the construction industry. In light of the information from the literature, the necessary barriers and motivators in adopting sustainable practices in the construction industry were determined, and a questionnaire …

Synergistic Effect Of Alccofine As Partial Replacement Of Cement And M-Sand As Sand Substitution In Concrete For The Assessment Of Mechanical And Microstructural Properties, Yellinedi Madhavi, R.S. Ravichandran, J. Saravanan, N. Venkatasairam Kumar

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Using supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and traditional binder mass has revolutionized concrete production technology in the building industry. This study examines how Alcofine-1203 affects the microstructure and mechanical characteristics of concrete. The mechanical qualities of the mixtures were evaluated using six different mixes prepared for each M25 and M40 Grade. In the proposed mixes, cement is substituted with alccofine at 0 to 25% and M-Sand as fine aggregate. The Compressive strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity were assessed after 3, 7, 14, 28, 56, and 90 days of curing, and split tensile strength and flexure strength were evaluated after 28 and …

Sustainable Modification Of Stone Column Technique With Polyethylene Terephthalate (Pet) Plastic For Strengthening The Expansive Clay, Ng Jun Shen, Muzamir Hasan

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

This research investigated the modification of stone column application by the association of PET plastic as a coarse aggregate material for sustainable material replacement. Clay soil improvement with a granular material fabricated column substantially affected its soil-bearing capacity. Subsequently, it avoided severe problems such as soil settlement and structural instability. Previous studies have mentioned the function and alteration of stone columns using materials like bottom ash and fly ash. Still, no attention has been paid to the utilization of PET plastic for this area. This study examined the feasibility and reliability of materials, PET plastic, and kaolin clay S300 before …

Effect Of Reinforcement Thickness And Content On The Properties Of Compressed Earth Blocks, Salah Eddine Mokeddem, Abdelmadjid Hamouine, Rabia Abdeldjebar, Atef Hamaidi

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

This study explores the mechanical, hygroscopic, and thermal behavior of stabilized and unstabilized compressed earth blocks (CEB) by incorporating date palm wood chips (DPWC) as a natural fiber additive. The investigation covers a range of DPWC thicknesses (1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm) and content variations (0% to 1% by weight), focusing on the interaction between the bio-based reinforcement and the stabilized soil matrix, which is stabilized with 10% white Portland cement. The mixtures were compressed at a pressure of 5 MPa using a hydraulic press, providing a detailed examination of how these parameters impact the structural integrity and functional …

Impact Assessment Of Multipoint Video Distribution Systems On Satellite Signal Reception, Ali Karaki, Hiba Abdallah, Mohammed Al-Husseini, Hamza Issa

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

This work analyzes the potential interference impact on Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites stemming from Multipoint Video Distribution System (MVDS) transmissions, specifically examining side lobe radiation within Lebanon. Through simulations and analysis of antenna emission patterns, the study measures how varying MVDS power outputs affect the carrier-to-noise (C/N) ratio at the satellite receiver. Results reveal a significant impairment of signal quality, showing the C/N falling to -2.3 dB with an MVDS power level of 0 dBW under current system parameters. To counter this interference, a potential two-phase mitigation strategy is presented and its effectiveness considered. The study contributes to improving …

A Review On The Use Of Salt And Sugar As Natural Admixtures In Concrete, Noura A. Yassine, Lelian W. Elkhatib, Adel Elkordi, Mohammed Sonebi, Jamal Khatib

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Due to the large increase in construction nowadays, the focus on the reduction of waste in the environment and saving cost becomes crucial. This issue, if solved, will conserve natural materials and make an eco-friendly environment. According to this, the use of natural materials, specifically in concrete/mortar, will shape a green and sustainable environment. One of the most used materials in construction is concrete where some additives like accelerators and retarders are added in order to enhance and modify some properties of concrete. These additives are beneficial and important to be used specifically in case of different weather conditions. Weather …

Development Of A Risk Management System For Public Works Projects In Developing Countries: A Case Study Of Lebanon, Olivia Kalakesh, Walid Shatila, Ali Hatoum

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

The complexity of construction projects and their dependence on a wide range of factors make the integration of risk management into project management essential for achieving successful project outcomes. This research aims to develop a risk management system for public works projects, primarily in Lebanon. To achieve this, the main risks affecting the Lebanese construction industry were investigated, and their impact on the “golden triangle” of time, cost, and quality was analyzed. A questionnaire survey was conducted with a randomly selected sample of 55 engineers working in the Lebanese construction market. The questionnaire included 52 risk factors categorized into seven …

Multiscale Modelling Of Heat And Mass Transfer In Hemp Wools, Rayan El Sawalhi, Marwan Al Kheir, Louay El Soufi, Hassan Assoum

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

This paper deals with the development of a multi-scale model of coupled heat and mass transfer for hemp wool insulating materials. Natural fibrous insulating materials from renewable resources like hemp offer an attractive environmental option for conventional insulation materials. These materials exhibit excellent thermal performances in terms of thermal conductivity and thermal capacity but are highly sensitive to moisture variations. To fully describe their behavior, we developed a multi-scale approach founded upon three characteristic scales: the heterogeneous fiber scale, the homogenized fiber network scale, and the final product scale. Using the method of volume averaging, we established transfer equations at …

Fedevd: A Federated Road Traffic Event Detector From Social Networks, Ahmad Traboulsi, May Itani, Layal Abu Daher, Ali Haidar

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

The increasing population and the corresponding rise in the number of vehicles, coupled with inadequate public transportation, is increasing the already existing traffic problem. One solution to this problem has been the implementation of Traffic Monitoring Systems (TMS). However, TMS deployment entails significant costs, including (1) the installation of hardware in key areas and (2) the employment of dedicated monitoring personnel. Simultaneously, Online Social Networks (OSNs) have become global platforms with rapidly growing user bases, leading to a surge in user engagement. This widespread participation has transformed social networks into invaluable sources of data for analytics, business intelligence, and decision …

Assessing The Influence Of Afforestation On Soil Quality And Soil Organic Carbon: A Case Study In Rashaya District, Lebanon, Mohammad Saleh, Wael Mostafa, Safaa Baydoun, Hisham Salman, Jamilah Borjac

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Afforestation is a promising strategy for improving soil quality and enhancing carbon sequestration, contributing to climate change mitigation efforts. This study assessed the impact of afforestation on soil parameters in two afforested areas and one natural forest, compared with adjacent non-forested sites in Rashaya al-Wadi, Lebanon. Soil samples (0–30 cm depth) were analyzed for texture, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic matter (SOM), soil organic carbon (SOC), organic nitrogen (ON), mineral nitrogen (MN), and available phosphorus (AP) using ISO and standardized protocols at the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI). The findings indicate that afforestation significantly increased SOM, SOC, and ON, …

Phytochemical Analysis And Antimicrobial Activity Of Micromeria Barbata Leaf And Stem Extracts Against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa: Insights From Molecular Docking And In Vitro Assays, Shiraz Rawas, Dalia El-Badan, Nawal Al Hakawati

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

The present study provides the characterization of the phytochemical content and the antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts from the leaves (LM) and stems (SM) of Micromeria barbata (M.barbata) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Important functional groups were determined by analyzing the FTIR spectra of LM and SM. The phytochemical profiles were analyzed by GC-MS, and these characterized the chemicals according to retention periods and peak regions. The binding affinities of discovered compounds with the P. aeruginosa LasR and PqsD proteins were evaluated using molecular docking approach. Assays for biofilm formation, MIC, MBC, and agar well diffusion were used to assess the …

Exponential Decay For The Truncated Version Of The Porous-Elastic Model, Dilberto Da Silva Almeida Júnior, Baowei Feng, Luiz Gutemberg Miranda

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

This paper investigates the one-dimensional truncated version of the porous-elastic system that avoids the damaging con sequences associated with the second frequency spectrum. We consider a feedback law acting on the displacement of the elastic solid and establish well-posedness via the Faedo-Galerkin method. Furthermore, we prove an exponential energy decay result that holds independently of any specific relationship between the system’s coefficients, using the energy perturbation method.

The Medical Check Up Result Data Collection System Function To Determine The Health Condition Of Workers At Pt. Pertamina Region Iii, Shonia Fitriananda, Mohammad Ridha

Jurnal Administrasi Bisnis Terapan

Activities carried out at PT. Pertamina (Persero) is very diverse. One of the activities is Medical Check Up under the auspices of Pertamedika, which is a health facility in PT. Pertamina (Persero) which is intended for workers to be checked for health every year with physical examination in the form of heart examination, blood tests, eye tests, and ultrasonography (USG). With the activities, it is inseparable from direct communication between the administration and workers to confirm each other about the needs and desires of workers who can be helped by the medical administration. The preparation of this academic paper task …

Victimization In The Grain Tower: A Study Of The Effect Of Community Perceptions On Victimization Risk And Perceived Wellness In A Rural Environment, Morgan Steele, April Terry, Ziwei Qi, Troy Terry, Tamara Lynn

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Social science research has studied the role of neighborhood order in explaining perceptions of crime and official crime statistics for decades. When citizens perceive their neighborhood to be socially and/or physically disordered, community and interpersonal relationships diminish, mistrust increases, including negative perceptions of police legitimacy, and overall individual wellness decreases. However, little is known about these interactions within a college population—neighborhoods referred to as “studentification” and described as “student ghettos.” Using an online survey distributed to all students, faculty, and staff of a midwestern rural university, we sought to better understand the university population’s perceptions regarding social disorder, police legitimacy, …

Informing Cold Spray Via High Strain Rate Particle Impacts Captured Using Ultra-High-Speed Videography, Elias Timmons

Theses and Dissertations

The primary objective of this research is to provide insight into high strain rate deformation behavior of particles in cold spray-like impacts for the purposes of material vetting and optimization of spray parameters for deposition quality and efficiency. A light gas gun and ultra-high-speed videography techniques were engineered, built, and used for millimeter particle impact experiments and adapted to launch micron scale particles at controlled velocities and particle/substrate temperatures representative of cold spray conditions. Analytical techniques employed for understanding impact mechanics focused on characterization of impact behavior and presence of features related to cold spray particle bonding. This research demonstrates …

Phenytoin Dosing Practices For Traumatic Brain Injury Seizure Prophylaxis In The Absence Of The Availability Of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring In Uganda: A Chart Review Study, Karenbeth H. Bohan, Winnie Nambatya, Melanie R. Nicol, Prosperity Eneh, Su Phyu, Richard Odoi Adome

Pharmacy Faculty Scholarship

Phenytoin is commonly used for seizure prophylaxis in patients with traumatic brain injury at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, Uganda. However, phenytoin therapeutic drug monitoring is not available in this low-resource setting. Anecdotes of breakthrough seizures in patients on phenytoin from healthcare providers at this institution prompted this quality improvement study. This study aimed to characterize prescribing practices for phenytoin and other antiepileptic drugs and then identify improvement strategies for seizure prophylaxis in patients with traumatic brain injury. A retrospective medical chart review was conducted to retrieve information, including dosage and timing of all antiepileptic drugs prescribed in relation …