Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

An Investigation Of Mitigation Measures On The Spread Of Covid-19 In A College Classroom Using Agent-Based Modeling, Saharsh Talwar, Anne E. Yust

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

In this manuscript, we describe the process of using agent-based modeling in NetLogo to create a simulation of COVID-19 spread in a traditional college classroom. The model allows for an evaluation of different preventative measures implemented by the University of Pittsburgh, including the cohort classroom attendance model, mask and vaccine mandates, contact tracing, and classroom sanitation. Through the use of the model's interactive interface, the impact of adjusting specific measures by the institution could be visualized, providing a valuable tool for combating diseases that spread through droplet transmission.

Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Emergency Department Triage Nurses' Response To Patients With Potential Acute Coronary Syndrome, John R. Blakeman, Holli A. Devon, Stephen J. Stapleton, Myoungjin Kim, Ann L. Eckhardt

Faculty Publications - Mennonite College of Nursing

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic added challenges to patient assessment and triage in the emergency department (ED).

Objective: To describe the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on ED triage nurse decisions for patients with potential ACS.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of data from a descriptive, electronic, survey-based study. Participants were asked two questions: whether the COVID-19 pandemic had affected their triage and/or assessment practices for patients with potential ACS and if so, how. Descriptive statistics were used to compare characteristics of participants. A qualitative descriptive approach was used to analyze responses to the open-ended questions about the pandemic’s effect …

On Efficacy And Effectiveness Of Vaccines: A Mathematical Approach Based On Conditional Probability With Applications To The Covid-19 Context, Flavius Guias

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

This paper presents a mathematically formalized approach which points out the relation between efficacy and effectiveness of vaccines. The first term denotes the relative degree of protection in clinical trials or under ideal conditions, while the latter is based on observed real-life data. We define the efficacy by a similar formula to the effectiveness, but the probabilities involved in the relative risk are conditional with respect to the exposure to the virus. If exposure and vaccination status are independent, the two quantities are equal. Otherwise, the observed value of the effectiveness is a biased one, as it could be seen …

Case Series: Demonstration Of The Criticality Of Early Identification For Vestibular Labyrinthitis, Taylor Schaul, Antony Joseph

AuD Capstone Projects - Communication Sciences and Disorders

Introduction: labyrinthitis occurs when both branches of the vestibulocochlear nerve swell, specifically the vestibular and cochlear portions. Diagnosed by the process of elimination, labyrinthitis can have detrimental auditory and vestibular effects when identified untimely. When diagnosed early, labyrinthitis can be resolved with rest, medication, and vestibular rehabilitation therapy. Case Presentation: A young adult presented to the clinic with a heavy head sensation, lack of concentration, and blurry vision that escalated to left ear fullness, unilateral tinnitus, and an untriggered persistent headache. Discussion: This patient was undiagnosed for three months due to the unavailability of vestibular testing in the emergency room …

Mathematical Modeling, Analysis, And Simulation Of The Covid-19 Pandemic With Behavioral Patterns And Group Mixing, Comfort Ohajunwa, Padmanabhan Seshaiyer

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

Due to the rise of COVID-19 cases, many mathematical models have been developed to study the disease dynamics of the virus. However, despite its role in the spread of COVID-19, many SEIR models neglect to account for human behavior. In this project, we develop a novel mathematical modeling framework for studying the impact of mixing patterns and social behavior on the spread of COVID-19. Specifically, we consider two groups, one exhibiting normal behavior who do not reduce their contacts and another exhibiting altered behavior who reduce their contacts by practicing non-pharmaceutical interventions such as social distancing and self-isolation. The dynamics …

A Mathematical Model For The Effect Of Social Distancing On The Spread Of Covid-19, Anna Singley, Hannah Callender Highlander

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

Social distancing is an effective method of impeding the spread of a novel disease such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but is dependent on public involvement and is susceptible to failure when sectors of the population fail to participate. A standard SIR model is largely incapable of modeling differences in a population due to the broad generalizations it makes such as uniform mixing and homogeneity of hosts, which results in lost detail and accuracy when modeling heterogeneous populations. By further compartmentalizing an SIR model, via the separation of people within susceptible and infected groups, we can more …

A Study Of Covid-19 Mortality Under Varying Patient Frailty, Alison N. Sifuentes

Theses and Dissertations

Modeled the spread and mortality of COVID-19 throughout the city of Chicago. By incorporating group frailty into a classic SEIR infectious disease model, we were able to differentiate the population of Chicago by their response to COVID-19. Three age groups with different COVID-19-induced death rates were examined, and the model sought to showcase the multiplicative deviation of each age group death rate from the average disease-induced death rate. This adjustment for different death rates among age groups accounted for heterogeneity within the population, and sought to introduce a more accurate manner for modeling the spread of infectious diseases.