Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Intensive Care Unit Mortality And Length Of Stay Among Critically Ill Patients With Sepsis Treated With Corticosteroids: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Eric E. Chinaeke, Ismaeel Yunusa Ph.D., Bryan L. Love Pharm. D., Joseph Magagnoli, Claiborne E. Reeder

Faculty Publications

Objectives: Sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients worldwide, and corticosteroids are commonly used to treat it. However, the evidence supporting the use of corticosteroids in sepsis patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) is of low certainty, with conflicting results reported in previous studies. Thus, we aimed to investigate the potential association between corticosteroid treatment and various outcomes, including 30-day ICU mortality, ICU length of stay (LOS), mechanical ventilation use, new onset of infection, and hyperglycemia in patients diagnosed with sepsis and admitted to the ICU.

Materials and Methods: We conducted …

The Polypharmacological Effects Of Cannabidiol, Jorge Castillo-Arellano, Ana Canseco-Alba, Stephen J. Cutler Ph.D., Francisco León Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a major phytocannabinoid present in Cannabis sativa (Linneo, 1753). This naturally occurring secondary metabolite does not induce intoxication or exhibit the characteristic profile of drugs of abuse from cannabis like Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆⁹-THC) does. In contrast to ∆⁹-THC, our knowledge of the neuro-molecular mechanisms of CBD is limited, and its pharmacology, which appears to be complex, has not yet been fully elucidated. The study of the pharmacological effects of CBD has grown exponentially in recent years, making it necessary to generate frequently updated reports on this important metabolite. In this article, a …

Covid-19 Lockdown: Impact On College Students’ Lives, Wendy C. Birmingham, Lori L. Wadsworth, Jane H. Lassetter

Faculty Publications

Objective: In light of COVID-19, leaders issued stay-at-home orders, including closure of higher-education schools. Most students left campus, likely impacting their employment and social network. Leaders are making decisions about opening universities and modality of instruction. Understanding students' psychological, physiological, academic, and financial responses to the shut-down and reopening of campuses can help leaders make informed decisions. Participants: 654 students from a large western university enrolled during the pandemic shutdown. Methods: Students were invited via email to complete an online survey. Results: Students reported stress, depression, loneliness, lack of motivation, difficulty focusing on schoolwork, restless sleep, appetite changes, job loss …

Impacts Of Fda Approval And Medicare Restriction On Antiamyloid Therapies For Alzheimer’S Disease: Patient Outcomes, Healthcare Costs, And Drug Development, Rouen Brockmann, Joanna Nixon, Bryan L. Love Pharm D., Ismaeel Yunusa Ph. D.

Faculty Publications

In 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval to aducanumab, an antiamyloid antibody for early-stage Alzheimer's disease, despite a lack of clear clinical evidence demonstrating the drug's cognitive benefits. The manufacturer initially priced the drug at a staggering $56,000 per year, a price that was later reduced to $28,200. Unfortunately, these costs do not include the additional expenses associated with monitoring the treatment. However, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced that they will only cover individuals enrolled in clinical trials and will limit coverage of future antiamyloid antibodies. This discrepancy between the FDA …

A Process For Converting An In-Person Training To Increase Church Capacity To Implement Physical Activity And Healthy Eating Practices And Policies To An Online Format, Sara Wilcox Phd, Ruth P. Saunders Ph.D., Jessica Stucker, Andrew T. Kaczynski Ph.D., Kelsey R. Day, Deborah Kinnard, Lindsay Decker, John A. Bernhart Ph.D., Mph, Ches

Faculty Publications

The implementation of evidence-based public health programs into practice is critical for improving health, but trainings for organizational change agents are often not scalable. To describe the process of converting a training that targets faith-based organizational capacity development from an in-person to an online format. We engaged in an iterative process to convert the training delivery mode from in-person to online that included assessing stakeholder support, consulting the literature on best practices, seeking a design team, consolidating content, designing engaging lessons, and building an online site. Feedback from end-users and other audiences was incorporated throughout. Pilot participants with characteristics like …

Revealing Geographic Transmission Pattern Of Covid-19 Using Neighborhood-Level Simulation With Human Mobility Data And Seir Model: A Case Study Of South Carolina, Huan Ning, Zhenlong Li, Shan Qiao, Chengbo Zeng, Jiajia Zhang Ph.D., Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Xiaoming Li Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Direct human physical contact accelerates COVID-19 transmission. Smartphone mobility data has emerged as a valuable data source for revealing fine-grained human mobility, which can be used to estimate the intensity of physical contact surrounding different locations. Our study applied smartphone mobility data to simulate the second wave spreading of COVID-19 in January 2021 in three major metropolitan statistical areas (Columbia, Greenville, and Charleston) in South Carolina, United States. Based on the simulation, the number of historical county-level COVID-19 cases was allocated to neighborhoods (Census block groups) and points of interest (POIs), and the transmission rate of each allocated place was …

Menstrual Justice In Theoretical Context, Vivian E. Hamilton

Faculty Publications

This Essay reviews and places into theoretical contexts Bridget Crawford and Emily Waldman’s invaluable book Menstruation Matters. Although the authors themselves do not explicitly label the theoretical approach that undergirds their work, much of Menstruation Matters: Challenging the Law’s Silence on Periods falls within the liberal feminist legal tradition typical of post-civil rights second-wave feminism. Their work also embodies aspects of critical feminist approaches to law. Crawford & Waldman expose the discriminatory effects of facially neutral laws, the limits of formal equality, and the pitfalls of essentializing or making universal claims about categories of individuals—including women and menstruators. In …

Utilizing The System Engineering Trade Study Analysis Method To Analyze Patient Aeromedical Evacuation, Sara Shaghaghi, Jeremy M. Slagley, Michael E. Miller, Gaiven Varshney

Faculty Publications

The US Air Force has gone through many aeromedical patient isolation transport system designs. The first designs were developed in response to the Ebola outbreak in 2014 and, more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. The trade study analysis part of the system engineering design method was used to analyze the historic and current aeromedical patient contamination control transport systems. A trade study is a process that evaluates alternatives based upon various “-ilities”, such as reconfigurability, flexibility, durability, cost, and more, and performs a systematic analysis to aid designers in producing a ‘good’ design alternative given the large set of possible solutions. …

Meeting Patients Where They Are: A Nurse-Driven Quality Improvement Project To Provide Influenza Vaccinations In The Emergency Department, Stacie Hunsaker, Larry Garrett, Katreena Merrill, Rachelle Rhodes

Faculty Publications

Introduction: Influenza is highly contagious, vaccine-preventable, and may result in significant morbidity and mortality. While vaccination is the primary protection against influenza, vaccination rates remain low. Traditionally, primary care clinics, retail pharmacies, and public health departments offer influenza vaccines. However, offering influenza vaccines in new settings may increase their availability to the public and increase community uptake. This project aimed to add emergency departments as a new influenza vaccine location to increase the number of vaccines distributed during the 2020 to 2021 influenza season.

Methods: Adult patients discharged from 24 emergency departments were included in this pre- post-intervention project. A …

Capturing Children Food Exposure Using Wearable Cameras And Deep Learning, Shady Elbassuoni, Hala Ghattas Ph.D., Jalila El Ati, Yorgo Zoughby, Aline Semaan, Christelle Akl, Tarek Trabelsi, Reem Talhouk, Houda Ben Gharbia, Zoulfikar Shmayssani, Aya Mourad

Faculty Publications

Children’s dietary habits are influenced by complex factors within their home, school and neighborhood environments. Identifying such influencers and assessing their effects is traditionally based on self-reported data which can be prone to recall bias. We developed a culturally acceptable machine-learning-based data-collection system to objectively capture school-children’s exposure to food (including food items, food advertisements, and food outlets) in two urban Arab centers: Greater Beirut, in Lebanon, and Greater Tunis, in Tunisia. Our machine-learning-based system consists of 1) a wearable camera that captures continuous footage of children’s environment during a typical school day, 2) a machine learning model that automatically …

Student Preferences For Active Learning And Their Beliefs, Experiences, And Knowledge, Tammy Shilling, Jerome Thayer, Anneris Coria-Navia, Heather Ferguson

Faculty Publications

Active teaching methods are believed to facilitate higher-order thinking skills and prepare allied health students for independent clinical decision-making. This quantitative, correlational study aimed to explain the relationships between student preferences for active over traditional methods and their beliefs, the frequency and positiveness of their experiences, and the extent of knowledge they have received regarding active and traditional teaching methods. Two hundred and thirty students completed a 53-item online survey. Students were enrolled in a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Masters in Speech-language Pathology, or Bachelor of Science Nursing program in one of seventeen participating institutions across a ten-state Midwest region. …

Altogether Now! Early Introduction Of Case-Based Learning For Success In Clinical Chemistry, Cristy E. Moss

Faculty Publications

•Differentiate between active & passive learning. •Identify ways early integration of case-based learning is beneficial for the medical laboratory student. •Summarize current methods for Integration of case-based activities into routine lecture / discussion sessions with students.

Affective Depression Mediates Ptsd To Suicide In A Sample Of Treatment-Seeking First Responders, James Whitworth, Jeanine Galusha, Jose Carbajal, Warren Ponder, Donna Schuman

Faculty Publications

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the associations of comorbid

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), affective or somatic depression, and

suicide among first responders (FRs). Method: We used baseline data from

FRs (N = 232) who sought services at a nonprofit mental health agency specializing

in treating trauma exposed FRs. We conducted two PROCESS simple

mediation models with PTSD as the predictor, affective depression and somatic

depression as the mediators, and suicidality as the dependent variable.

Results: Affective depression significantly mediated the relationship between

PTSD and suicidality, whereas somatic depression did not. The direct effect …

Maternal And Infant Outcomes Of Syrian And Palestinian Refugees, Lebanese And Migrant Women Giving Birth In A Tertiary Public Hospital In Lebanon: A Secondary Analysis Of An Obstetric Database, Stephen J. Mccall, Tanya C. El Khoury, Hala Ghattas Ph.D., Shady Elbassuoni, Mhd Hussein Murtada, Zeina Jamaluddine, Christine Haddad, Aya Hussein, Amina Krounbi, Jocelyn Dejong, Janoub Khazaal, Rabih Chahine

Faculty Publications

Objectives This study aims to assess whether the characteristics, management and outcomes of women varied between Syrian and Palestinian refugees, migrant women of other nationalities and Lebanese women giving birth at a public tertiary centre in Beirut, Lebanon.

Methods This was a secondary data analysis of routinely collected data from the public Rafik Hariri University Hospital (RHUH) between January 2011 and July 2018. Data were extracted from medical notes using text mining machine learning methods. Nationality was categorised into Lebanese, Syrian, Palestinian and migrant women of other nationalities. The main outcomes were diabetes, pre-eclampsia, placenta accreta spectrum, hysterectomy, uterine rupture, …

Comparative-Effectiveness Of Oral Beta-Lactams And Fluoroquinolones For Stepdown Therapy In Patients With Enterobacterales Bloodstream Infections: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Lauren Bjork Ph.D., Teri Hopkins Ph.D., Linda Yang Ph.D., Chengwen Teng Pharm.D., Ph.D., Xavier Jones Bs, Jose Cadena, Elizabeth Walter, Christopher R. Frei Pham.D., Ms

Faculty Publications

Background: This study compares treatment failure for patients who received oral beta-lactams (BLs) and fluoroquinolones (FQs) for stepdown treatment of Enterobacterales bloodstream infections (BSIs).

Methods: We conducted a single-center, retrospective, age- and sex-matched, cohort study, at a Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital in South Texas. Eligible patients were at least 18 years of age with a monomicrobial BSI treated with a single oral BL or FQ antibiotic. Treatment failure was defined as recurrence or all-cause mortality within 90 days of documented BSI. Bivariate (chi-square, Fisher's Exact, and Wilcoxon Rank Sum) and multivariate (logistic regression) statistical tests were used to compare groups. …

Design And Characterization Of An Aerosol Test Chamber For Emergency Response Patient Contamination Control Simulation And Research, Megan L. Steele, Emily M. Spatz, George P. Lemmer, Jacob M. Denney, Casey Cooper, Jeremy M. Slagley, Robert M. Eninger

Faculty Publications

Contaminated or infected patients present a risk of cross-contamination for emergency responders, attending medical personnel and medical facilities as they enter a treatment facility. The controlled conditions of an aerosol test chamber are required to examine factors of contamination, decontamination, and cross-contamination. This study presents the design, construction, and a method for characterizing an aerosol test chamber for a full-sized manikin on a standard North Atlantic Treaty Organization litter. The methodology combined air velocity measurements, aerosol particle counts and size distributions, and computational fluid dynamics modeling to describe the chamber’s performance in three dimensions. This detailed characterization facilitates future experimental …

Global Investments In Pandemic Preparedness And Covid-19: Development Assistance And Domestic Spending On Health Between 1990 And 2026, Angela E. Micah, Kayleigh Bhangdia, Ian E. Cogswell, Dylan Lasher, Brendan Lidral-Porter, Ismaeel Yunusa Ph. D., Et Al.

Faculty Publications

Background The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted gaps in health surveillance systems, disease prevention, and treatment globally. Among the many factors that might have led to these gaps is the issue of the financing of national health systems, especially in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), as well as a robust global system for pandemic preparedness. We aimed to provide a comparative assessment of global health spending at the onset of the pandemic; characterise the amount of development assistance for pandemic preparedness and response disbursed in the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic; and examine expectations for future health spending and put …

Effects Of Positive Social Comparative Feedback On Motor Sequence Learning And Performance Expectancies, Allison F. Lewis, Rachel Bohnenkamp, Lynn Johnson, Dirk B. Den Ouden, Sarah Wilcox Phd, Stacy L. Fritz, Jill Campbell Stewart Pt,Phd

Faculty Publications

Introduction: Positive social comparative feedback indicates to the learner that they are performing better than others. While this type feedback supports motor skill learning in some tasks, the effect of social comparative feedback on implicit motor sequence learning remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of positive social comparative feedback on the learning of and expectancies for a motor sequence task. Methods: Forty-eight individuals practiced a joystick-based sequence task and were divided into three feedback groups: CONTROL (no performance feedback), RT ONLY (response time only feedback), and RT+POS (response time plus positive social comparison). Participants …

Building Organizational Learning Capacity: A Road Map For Nurse Executives, Bret Lyman, Marie M. Prothero, Joy Parchment

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this article is to guide nurse executives in building learning capacity within their organizations. The Organizational Learning Road Map provided is grounded in the American Organization for Nursing Leadership’s Nurse Leader Core Competencies. Key steps include: developing one’s self as a learning leader, sharing a learning-focused vision for the organization, establishing a culture of learning, charting a course toward becoming a learning organization, developing a leadership team to support learning throughout the organization, measuring progress toward the vision, and sustaining momentum.

Building Organizational Learning Capacity: A Road Map For Nurse Executives, Bret Lyman, Marie M. Prothero, Joy Parchment

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this article is to guide nurse executives in building learning capacity within their organizations. The Organizational Learning Road Map provided is grounded in the American Organization for Nursing Leadership’s Nurse Leader Core Competencies. Key steps include: developing one’s self as a learning leader, sharing a learning-focused vision for the organization, establishing a culture of learning, charting a course toward becoming a learning organization, developing a leadership team to support learning throughout the organization, measuring progress toward the vision, and sustaining momentum.

Effect Of A Plant-Based Vs Omnivorous Soul Food Diet On Weight And Lipid Levels Among African American Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Gabrielle M. Turner-Mcgrievy Ph.D., Rd, Sara Wilcox Phd, Edward A. Frongillo Jr. Ph.D., E. Angela Murphy, Brent Hutto Msph, Mary Wilson Phd, Mph, Marty Davey, John A. Bernhart Ph.D., Mph, Ches, Nkechi Okpara, Shiba Bailey, Emily Hu

Faculty Publications

Importance: More African American individuals die from cardiovascular disease (CVD) than any other chronic disease condition. Despite this disparity, African American individuals are underrepresented in nutrition and CVD interventions. Objective: To compare the effects of an entirely plant-based (vegan) or low-fat omnivorous (omni) diet on change in body weight and lipids during a 2-year intervention. Design, Setting, and Participants: The Nutritious Eating With Soul (NEW Soul) study was a 2-year, randomized clinical trial conducted in 2 cohorts (2018-2020 and 2019-2021) that took place in a university teaching kitchen in Columbia, South Carolina (before March 2020), and via online videoconference sessions …

Perspective: Food Environment Research Priorities For Africa-Lessons From The Africa Food Environment Research Network, Amos K. Laar, Phyllis Addo, Richmond Aryeetey, Charles Agyemang, Francis Zotor, Gershim Asiki, Krystal K. Ramapalli, Gideon S. Anevinya, Akua Tandoh, Silver Nanema, Akosua Pokua Adjei, Matlida E. Laar, Kobby Mensah, Dennis Laryea, Daniel Sellen, Stefanie Vandevijvere, Christopher Turner, Hibbah Osei-Kwasi, Mark Spires, Christine E. Blake, Dominic Rowland, Suneetha Kadiyala, Isabel Madzorera, Adama Diouf, Namukolo Covic, Isaac M. Dzudzor, Reginald Annan, Peiman Milani, John Nortey, Nicholas Bricas, Sukati Mphumuzi, Kenneth Yongabi Anchang, Ali Jafri, Meenal Dhall, Amanda Kee, Sally Mckay, Samuel O. Oti, Karen Hofman, Edward A. Frongillo Jr. Ph.D., Michelle Holdsworth

Faculty Publications

Over the last 2 decades, many African countries have undergone dietary and nutrition transitions fueled by globalization, rapid urbanization, and development. These changes have altered African food environments and, subsequently, dietary behaviors, including food acquisition and consumption. Dietary patterns associated with the nutrition transition have contributed to Africa's complex burden of malnutrition—obesity and other diet-related noncommunicable diseases (DR-NCDs)—along with persistent food insecurity and undernutrition. Available evidence links unhealthy or obesogenic food environments (including those that market and offer energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods and beverages) with suboptimal diets and associated adverse health outcomes. Elsewhere, governments have responded with policies to improve food …

Moderation Effect Of Community Health On The Relationship Between Racial/Ethnic Residential Segregation And Hiv Viral Suppression In South Carolina: A County-Level Longitudinal Study From 2013 To 2018, Fanghui Shi, Jiajia Zhang Ph.D., Xueying Yang Ph.D., Xiaowen Sun, Zhenlong Li, Chengbo Zeng, Huan Ning, Sharon Weissman, Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Xiaoming Li Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Background: Viral suppression is the ultimate goal of the HIV treatment cascade and a primary endpoint of antiretroviral therapy. Empirical evidence found racial/ethnic disparities in viral suppression among people living with HIV (PWH), but the evidence of the relationship between racial/ethnic residential segregation and place-based viral suppression is scarce. Further exploring potential structural moderators in this relationship has substantial implications for healthcare policymaking and resource allocation. The current study aimed to investigate the spatial-temporal disparities in the HIV viral suppression rate across 46 counties in South Carolina from 2013 to 2018. We also examined the impact of racial/ethnic residential segregation …

Study Protocol For The Breathe Easier Trial: A Pilot Rct Of A Dyad-Based, Multiple-Behavior Intervention For Improving Physical And Emotional Health In Survivors Facing Lung Cancer, Karen Kane Mcdonnell Phd, Rn, Jeannette O. Andrews Phd, Rn, Faan, Chih Hsiang Yang Ph.D., Brandi R. Newsome, Ella Weinkle, Jean Elizabeth Davis, Shira Dunsiger

Faculty Publications

Background: Research targeting survivors of lung cancer has yet to adequately address the management of physical deconditioning and unresolved symptoms (dyspnea, fatigue). The objective of the Breathe Easier trial is to test the feasibility and preliminary effects of a theory-based, multiple-behavior intervention (physical activity, smoking reduction for current smokers, stress management) targeting survivors of localized non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC, stages I-III) and their supportive partners. Methods: This pilot RCT will enroll 30 dyads (60 participants). Each dyad will consist of one survivor and one partner (defined as a family member or friend) Dyads will be randomized to the Intervention Group …

Dataset For Effects Of Single-Session Practice Structure On Motor Skill Acquisition And Alpha And Beta Eeg Oscillations, Audrey Porter, Ronald V. Croce, Wayne Smith

Faculty Publications

Although it is known that practicing a motor skill updates the associated internal model, it is still unclear as to how cortical oscillations linked with the motor skill change under differing practice schedules. The current study investigated α- and β-power changes associated with motor skill acquisition. Firstly, we investigated the behavioral effects of practice on motor learning and retention during repetitive (RP) and variable (VP) practice schedules on an anticipation timing task. Secondly, we investigated changes in cortical α (10-13 HZ) and β (15-30 Hz) event-related synchronization and dyssynchronization (ERS/ERD) under RP and VP during early (EP) and late …

Residential Segregation And County-Level Covid-19 Booster Coverage In The Deep South: Surveillance Report And Ecological Study, Chengbo Zeng, Jiajia Zhang Ph.D., Zhenlong Li, Xiaowen Sun, Huan Ning, Xueying Yang, Sharon Weissman, Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Xiaoming Li Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Background: COVID-19 had a greater impact in the Deep South compared with other regions in the United States. While vaccination remains a top priority for all eligible individuals, data regarding the progress of booster coverage in the Deep South and how the coverage varies by county and age are sparse. Despite existing evidence of racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 vaccinations at the individual level, there is an urgent need for evidence at the population level. Such information could highlight vulnerable communities and guide future health care policy-making and resource allocation.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate county-level COVID-19 booster coverage …

Using Geospatial Social Media Data For Infectious Disease Studies: A Systematic Review, Fengrui Jing, Zhenlong Li, Shan Qiao Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D., Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Xiaoming Li Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Geospatial social media (GSM) data has been increasingly used in public health due to its rich, timely, and accessible spatial information, particularly in infectious disease research. This review synthesized 86 research articles that use GSM data in infectious diseases published between December 2013 and March 2022. These articles cover 12 infectious disease types ranging from respiratory infectious diseases to sexually transmitted diseases with spatial levels varying from the neighborhood, county, state, and country. We categorized these studies into three major infectious disease research domains: surveillance, explanation, and prediction. With the assistance of advanced computing, statistical and spatial methods, GSM data …

Ecologic Analysis Of Antimicrobial Use In South Carolina Hospitals During 2020–2022, Pamela Bailey, Shujie Chen, Majdi N. Al-Hasan, Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Background:

Factors influencing excessive antimicrobial utilization in hospitalized patients remain poorly understood, particularly with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:

In this retrospective cohort, we compared administrative data regarding antimicrobial prescriptions in hospitalized patients in South Carolina from March 2020 through September 2022. The study examined variables associated with antimicrobial use across demographics, COVID status, and length of stay, among other variables.

Results:

Significant relationships were seen with antimicrobial use in COVID-19 positive patients (OR 2.00, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.9–2.1), young adults (OR 1.08, 95% CI: 0.99–1.12, COVID-19 positive Blacks and Hispanics (OR 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01–1.11, OR 1.05, 95% CI: …

How Perspectives On Food Safety Of Vendors And Consumers Translate Into Food-Choice Behaviors In 6 African And Asian Countries, Sejla Isanovic, Shilpa V. Constantinides, Edward A. Frongillo Ph.D., Shiva Bhandari, Sharraf Samin, Emma Kenney, Sigrid Wertheim-Heck, Stella Nordhagen, Michelle Holdsworth, Paula Dominguez-Salas, Ramya Ambikapathi, Amos Laar, Crystal L. Patil, Bharati Kulkarni, Salome A. Bukachi, Mariah Ngutu, Christine E. Blake Ph.D., Rd

Faculty Publications

Background: Consumption of unsafe foods increases morbidity and mortality and is currently an issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Policy actions to ensure food safety are dominated by mitigation of biological and chemical hazards through supply-side risk management, lessening the degree to which consumer perspectives of food safety are considered. Objectives: This study aimed to provide an in-depth understanding, from vendor and consumer perspectives, of how food-safety concerns of consumers translate into their subsequent food-choice behaviors in 6 diverse low- and middle-income countries. Methods: Six Drivers of Food Choice projects (2016–2022) provided transcripts from 17 focus group discussions and …

Perceptual Ratings Of Pronunciation For L2 Learners Of English As A Function Of Task Type, Word Position, And Listener Expertise, Shawn L. Nissen, Rachel Kemmey, K. James Hartshorn

Faculty Publications

Abstract Second language (L2) learners of English must learn to pro-duce English phonemes, words, and sentences. These L2learners make many errors when learning English; they may change the place or manner of articulation, insert vowels, or delete consonants. Obstruent sounds, such as fricatives, affricates, and stops, can be especially difficult for L2 learners. This study analyzed native English speakers’ perception of the quality of obstruents produced by native Mandarin Chinese and Korean speakers. Target words containing obstruents had been produced in three different tasks: in a carrier phrase, in a paragraph, and in a spontaneous speechsample. Obstruents were produced in …