Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Treatment With The Immunocontraceptive Vaccine, Gonacon, Induces Temporary Fertility Control In Free-Ranging Prairie Dog Populations In Colorado, Usa, Aaron B. Shiels, Jackson Runte, Emily W. Ruell, Douglas C. Eckery, Gary W. Witmer, Daniel J. Salkeld

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Context

Prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) are rodents enjoyed by some humans; yet, they cause crop and property damage, and carry zoonotic disease. Non-lethal control of prairie dogs is of interest in urban/suburban settings. The injectable immunocontraceptive vaccine GonaCon (active ingredient is gonadotropin-releasing hormone [GnRH]) has been shown to be effective at reducing fertility in equine and deer, and is a US EPA-registered vaccine for use in these ungulate species.

Aims

To conduct a replicated field study to test efficacy of GonaCon in black-tailed prairie dogs (C. ludovicianus), and if found to be efficacious, to help facilitate …

Comparison Of Ketamine-Xylazine, Butorphanol-Azaperone-Medetomidine, And Nalbuphine-Medetomidine-Azaperone For Raccoon (Procyon Lotor) Immobilization, Shylo R. Johnson, Christine K. Ellis, Chad Wickham, Molly R. Selleck, Amy T. Gilbert

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are frequently handled using chemical immobilization in North America for management and research. In a controlled environment, we compared three drug combinations: ketamine-xylazine (KX), butorphanol-azaperone-medetomidine (BAM), and nalbuphinemedetomidine- azaperone (NalMed-A) for raccoon immobilization. In crossover comparisons, raccoons received a mean of the following: 8.66 mg/kg ketamine and 1.74 mg/kg xylazine (0.104 mL/kg KX); 0.464 mg/kg butorphanol, 0.155 mg/kg azaperone, and 0.185 mg/kg medetomidine (0.017 mL/kg BAM); and 0.800 mg/kg nalbuphine, 0.200 mg/kg azaperone, and 0.200 mg/kg medetomidine (0.020 mL/kg NalMed-A). Induction time was shortest with KX (mean6SE, 10.060.7 min) and longest with NalMed-A (13.061.3 min). …

Using Prescribed Fire And Biosolids Applications As Grassland Management Tools: Do Wildlife Respond?, Brian E. Washburn, Michael J. Begier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Prescribed burning is a management tool commonly used in forested ecosystems in the southeastern United States, but the influence of this method on grassland vegetation and wildlife in this geographic region is unknown. During 2009–2015, we conducted a study to determine if the application of prescribed burning and/or long-term biosolid applications alter plant communities and/or wildlife use of grassland areas at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Havelock, North Carolina. We monitored vegetation growth, measured plant community composition, and documented wildlife activity in four study plots for 3 years after the implementation of annual winter prescribed burns. Prescribed burning reduced …

Potential Landscape Connectivity For Invasive Wild Pigs (Sus Scrofa) Across The Northern Prairies Of North America, Corey J. Kramer, Melanie R. Boudreau, Ryan Powers, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Ryan S. Miller, Ryan K. Brook

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Understanding landscape scale connectivity is an essential component in the management of invasive species since connectivity facilitates their invasion potential. Invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are among the most prolific invaders on the planet, causing billions of dollars in agricultural and environmental damage annually. Newly introduced to Canada in the 1980s, we examined wild pig invasion potential across the northern prairies from western Canada into the currently wild pig-free northern U.S. states. We used GPS collar data collected in the Canadian prairies to quantify resource selection and incorporated results into an electric circuit theory framework to evaluate potential …

Rapid Point-Of-Care Testing For Detection Of Antibodies To Toxoplasma Gondii In Black Vultures And Ring-Billed Gulls From Pennsylvania, Alexa Rosypal Von Dohlen, Sydney Randall, Jordyan Grays, Mark A. Dugo, Brian J. Hunt, Justin Brown, Kyle Van Why, Sawsan Ammar, Richard Gerhold

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoan parasite that infects most warm-blooded animals, including birds. Scavenging birds are epidemiologically important hosts because they can serve as indicators of environmental T. gondii levels. A rapid point-of-care (POC) test that detects antibodies to T. gondii in humans is commercially available. In this research, we assessed the ability of the human POC test to detect anti–T. gondii antibodies in 106 black vultures (Coragyps atratus) and 23 ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) from Pennsylvania, USA. Serum samples were tested with the POC test and compared to the modified …

Low Secondary Risks For Turkey Vultures From A Sodium Nitrite Toxic Bait For Wild Pigs, Justin A. Foster, John C. Kinsey, Michael J. Lavelle, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Nathan P. Snow

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

An acute and orally‐delivered toxic bait for wild pigs (Sus scrofa) containing sodium nitrite (SN) is being developed and tested for potential registration in the U.S. We evaluated oral toxicity of SN and risk of secondary consumption in a common avian scavenger, the turkey vulture (Carthartes aura), by 1) conducting an acute oral toxicity test (LD₅₀) for turkey vultures by oral gavage, and 2) allowing turkey vultures to feed on whole carcasses and digestive tracts of wild pigs that died from consuming SN‐laden bait. Captive tests were conducted during fall 2016 and spring 2017 in the …

A Method For Characterizing Disease Emergence Curves From Paired Pathogen Detection And Serology Data, Joshua Hewitt, Grete Wilson-Henjum, Derek T. Collins, Jourdan M. Ringenberg, Christopher A. Quintanal, Robert Pleszewski, Jeffrey C. Chandler, Thomas J. Deliberto, Kim M. Pepin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

1. Wildlife disease surveillance programs and research studies track infection and identify risk factors for wild populations, humans and agriculture. Often, several types of samples are collected from individuals to provide more complete information about an animal's infection history. Methods that jointly analyse multiple data streams to study disease emergence and drivers of infection via epidemiological process models remain underdeveloped. Joint-analysis methods can more thoroughly analyse all available data, more precisely quantifying epidemic processes, outbreak status, and risks.

2. We contribute a paired data modelling approach that analyses multiple samples from individuals. We use ‘characterization maps’ to link paired data …

Torque Teno Sus Virus 1: A Potential Surrogate Pathogen To Study Pig-Transmitted Transboundary Animal Diseases, Xiaolong Li, Brandon M. Parker, Raoul K. Boughton, James C. Beasley, Timothy J. Smyser, James D. Austin, Kim M. Pepin, Ryan S. Miller, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Samantha M. Wisely

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Understanding the epidemiology and transmission dynamics of transboundary animal diseases (TADs) among wild pigs (Sus scrofa) will aid in preventing the introduction or containment of TADs among wild populations. Given the challenges associated with studying TADs in free-ranging populations, a surrogate pathogen system may predict how pathogens may circulate and be maintained within wild free-ranging swine populations, how they may spill over into domestic populations, and how management actions may impact transmission. We assessed the suitability of Torque teno sus virus 1 (TTSuV1) to serve as a surrogate pathogen for molecular epidemiological studies in wild pigs by investigating …

Common Grackle (Quiscalus Quiscula) Predation Of A Great Lakes Piping Plover (Charadrius Melodus) Nest And Its Conservation Implications, Jade R. Arneson, Dennis A. Peloquin, Thomas G. Prestby, Sarah P. Saunders

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) was observed consuming eggs from an exclosed (protected) Great Lakes piping plover (Charadrius melodus) nest in the lower bay of Green Bay, Lake Michigan in Wisconsin, USA during June 2023. The observation, captured by a trail camera, is the first photographic documentation of grackle predation in any of the three piping plover breeding populations. This behavior adds common grackle to the suite of egg predators and has critical implications for this shorebird species, particularly in the Great Lakes region where piping plover is listed as federally endangered and common grackles are relatively …

Case Report: The Effect Of Automated Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapy On Lymphatic Contractility In 4 Distinct Cases, Melissa B Aldrich, John C Rasmussen, Ron J Karni, Caroline E Fife, Frank Aviles, Kristen A Eckert, M Mark Melin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Automated manual lymphatic drainage therapy (AMLDT) is available for home use in the form of a pneumatic mat of 16 pressurized air channels that inflate and deflate to mimic the stretch and release action of manual lymphatic drainage therapy. Four cases (a patient with complex regional pain syndrome and lymphedema, a healthy patient, a breast cancer survivor with chronic pain, and a patient with a history of abdominal surgery) underwent near-infrared fluorescence lymphatic imaging (NIRFLI) with AMLDT to evaluate the effect of AMLDT on lymphatic pumping and pain.

METHODS: Each patient received 32-36 injections of 25 μg indocyanine green …

Association Between Symptom Burden And Early Lymphatic Abnormalities After Regional Nodal Irradiation For Breast Cancer, Alison K Yoder, Tianlin Xu, Peter Youssef, Sarah Desnyder, Kathryn E Marqueen, Lynn Isales, Ruitao Lin, Benjamin D Smith, Wendy A Woodward, Michael C Stauder, Eric A Strom, Melissa B Aldrich, Simona F Shaitelman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: Dermal backflow visualized on near-infrared fluorescence lymphatic imaging (NIRF-LI) signals preclinical lymphedema that precedes the development of volumetrically defined lymphedema. We sought to evaluate whether dermal backflow correlates with patient-reported lymphedema outcomes (PRLO) surveys in breast cancer patients treated with regional nodal irradiation (RNI).

METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients with breast cancer planned for axillary dissection and RNI prospectively underwent perometry, NIRF-LI, and PRLOs (the Lymphedema Symptom Intensity and Distress Survey [LSIDS] and QuickDASH) at baseline, after surgery, and at 6, 12, and 18 months after radiation. Clinical lymphedema was defined as an arm volume increase ≥5% over baseline. Trends …

Biomechanical Evaluation And Intraoperative Strategies For Addressing Suture Anchor Failure In Osteoporotic Bone, Richard Marchese, Samir Baig, Sofia P. Hidalgo, Jaclyn Brunner, David E. Komatsu, Edward D. Wang

Stony Brook Orthopaedic and Musculoskeletal Journal

Purpose: When aiming to enhance the strength of a suture anchor construct, typically in osteoporotic bone, it is often suggested to employ a method referred to as "under-tapping" (UT). A comprehensive assessment of tapping protocols for anchor placement was conducted to ascertain if this contributes to the prevention of anchor failure. Further, supplementary fixation techniques were examined to offer methods for secure fixation in the event of unanticipated failure.

Hypothesis: Under-tapping can increase load to failure compared to standard tapping (ST). If the initial fixation fails, using larger diameter anchors or bioabsorbable Trim-IT pins (TIP) via cross-pinning can provide stable …

Incidence Of Cardiovascular Surgery Following Pediatric Posterior Sternoclavicular Dislocation: Evaluating The Necessity Of Cardiothoracic Surgeon Standby During Operative Treatment, Ryan Lebens, Christian Leonardo, Rigel Hall, James Barsi

Stony Brook Orthopaedic and Musculoskeletal Journal

Introduction: Posterior sternoclavicular (PSC) dislocations are rare events, most commonly occurring after high energy injury such as motor vehicle accident or contact sports. While rare, PSC dislocations can be life threatening due to risk of posterior displacement of the medial clavicle impinging the great vessels leading to the heart. As such, patients with sternoclavicular dislocation are at risk for intimal tears and hemorrhage. Traditional orthopedic surgery teachings state closed reductions for PSC dislocation should have cardiothoracic (CT) surgeons on standby in the event intimal tears need repair. Despite this, there lacks conclusive evidence and literature about whether CT surgeon standby …

Perioperative Continuous Glucose Monitoring In Diabetic Patients Undergoing Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty, Dorian Cohen, Mei Lin Chan, Abdullah Y. Hassan, Anna Lei, Joseph F. Lacomb, Igor Kravetz, James Nicholson

Stony Brook Orthopaedic and Musculoskeletal Journal

See article.

Postoperative Recovery Following Ankle Fracture Surgery With And Without At Home Physical Therapy System: A Prospective Randomized Control Study, John Kennedy, Amos Dai, Michelle Regan, Kaitlyn Compitello, David E. Komatsu, Megan Paulus

Stony Brook Orthopaedic and Musculoskeletal Journal

See article.

The Prevalence Of Dupuytren’S Disease In Patients With Epilepsy, Sandhya Ganesan, Kaitlyn N. Compitello, Benjamin N. Blond, David E. Komatsu, Lawrence C. Hurst

Stony Brook Orthopaedic and Musculoskeletal Journal

Background: Dupuytren’s disease (DD) is a fibroproliferative disorder characterized by progressively worsening contractures of the fingers, first web, and thumb. This condition has been associated with various risk factors, one of which includes epilepsy and recurrent seizures. Antiseizure medications (ASMs) especially phenobarbital, have been implicated in the connection between the two conditions; however, their association remains unclear.

Purpose: This study evaluated data from a TriNetX network of 132,152,597 total patients, 1,492,227 patients with epilepsy, 141,237 patients with DD, and 4,244 patients with both epilepsy and DD, to assess the correlation between DD and epilepsy and factors that may …

Utility Of Intraoperative Ultrasound In Localizing Retracted Flexor Tendon Injuries: A Cadaveric Study, Cris Min, Emil Vutescu S. Vutescu, Kenny Ling, David E. Komatsu, Edward D. Wang

Stony Brook Orthopaedic and Musculoskeletal Journal

Background: Flexor tendon injuries are common injuries typically seen in the working-age (20 to 45 years) young male population1. These injuries can be debilitating and lead to significant morbidity, as most flexor tendon lacerations require surgical treatment for proper healing. There is increasing use of both preoperative and postoperative ultrasound to aid in evaluation of flexor tendon injuries.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if ultrasound was a modality that could be useful intraoperatively in the localization of Zone II retracted flexor tendon injuries, as well as to determine how accurate ultrasound is in measuring the defect. …

Digital Literacy And Veterans In Hud-Vash, Chapin Graham

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

People who experience homelessness (PEH) prioritize survival occupations over others. They also encounter systemic barriers to engagement, which leads to occupational deprivation. Veterans who experience homelessness (VEH) are disproportionately impacted: low-income veterans are twice as likely to become homeless than the general population. Digital technology serves as a way for people to engage with their community, participate in leisure, and use the internet to find work, a place to live, or where to eat. Many PEH have cell phones, but fewer than 50% use them for occupations outside of social participation. This literature review aimed to investigate the existing literature …

Food Insecure Needs Assessment At Johnson & Wales, Kheara Zito

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Wildcat Food Rescue is a nonprofit club at Johnson & Wales that collects leftover food produced in the culinary and baking & pastry labs, and transforms them into grab and go meal options for students to take, free of charge. According to advisor Chef Tim Brown, Wildcat Food Rescue benefits food insecure students at Johnson & Wales University who may not have enough money to pay for a full meal plan and commuters who may not have a meal plan or don’t have access to food throughout the day while on campus. The needs assessment was conducted to see if …

Feeding Interventions For Children With Ds, Acadia Cass, Jayde Monteiro, Venisa Rodriguez

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Children with Down Syndrome (CWDS) often struggle transitioning from liquid to solid foods, which impacts their nutrition and development. Feeding is important due to its role in culture, health management, and social interaction, and feeding deficits can become stressors for children and caregivers. The goal of this systematic review is to synthesize the information on existing interventions for CWDS who have difficulty eating solid foods. Current research suggests that a combination of oral motor skills training, caregiver education and involvement, and food-texture fading techniques are effective to address solid food feeding challenges for CWDS. More research and a generalized guide …

Is Smartphone Time Or Social Media Time The Real Mental Health Problem For Young Adults?, Samantha Strong, S R. Rosenthal, Kelsey Gately, Jonathan Noel

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Background: While studies suggest smartphone screen time and social media time may increase the risk of poor mental health, most studies rely upon self-reports. Of the few that examine objectively measured time, they are all plagued by social desirability bias due to apps being installed on user’s phones prior to study initiation. This investigation avoids both of those methodological limitations to examine the role of smartphone and social media screen time in depression of college students.  Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey of college students who own iPhones at a higher education institution in the northeast US was conducted in October …

Healthcare Avoidance Among Sgm Population, Sarah Miller, Kelsey Gately, Samantha R. Rosenthal, Jonathan Noel, Jennifer Swanberg

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to identify factors associated with avoiding healthcare due to fear of discrimination among SGMs. Methods: Data were collected from N=1,316 adult SGMs from February-March 2022 using a web-based survey and recruiting from 100+ Subreddits on Reddit. Healthcare avoidance due to fear of discrimination, sexual and gender minority identity, partnership status, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) score, age, education, income, and race/ethnicity were measured. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between all variables and healthcare avoidance due to fear of discrimination. Results: 21.3% (N=280) of SGMs reported avoiding healthcare due to fear …

Internet, App-Based, And Casino Gambling, Steve Jacob, Samantha Rosenthal

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Technology-based gambling prevalence is not well understood since relevant questions are not included in health and disease surveillance studies. The current study sought to estimate the prevalence of internet-based and smartphone app-based gambling, along with casino gambling, in a sample of U.S. young adults and determine if gambling modality was associated with problem gambling symptoms or substance use. The 2022 Rhode Island Young Adult Survey included N=1,022 students between the ages of 18 to 25 years old who had lived in Rhode Island, with n=414 lifetime gamblers(40.5%) included in this study. Odds of gambling via a smartphone app and on …

Riss Findings: Bullying Effect On Mental Health, Andrea Avila, Jonathan Noel, Kelsey Gately, Samantha Borden, Samantha R. Rosenthal

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Background: The current study sought to identify individual and synergistic relationships between bullying victimization, perpetration, and mental health outcomes. Methods: Data from n=19,610 middle and high school students participating in the Rhode Island Student Survey were analyzed. Multivariable regression analysis was used to determine if being bullied in school, being cyberbullied, bullying others in school, and cyberbullying others were associated with depressive symptoms and suicide ideation. Synergistic effects across bullying modalities and bully involvement were also assessed. Results: Relative to students uninvolved in bullying, odds of suicide ideation were approximately 5 times greater among students who were both bullied in …

Sgm Workplace Discrimination And Unemployment, Mackenzie O'Neill, Samantha R. Rosenthal, Sara Namazi, Kelsey Gately, Jennifer Swanberg, Jonathan Noel

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

The sexual and gender minority (SGM) population often faces discrimination in daily life, in healthcare, and in the workplace. This discrimination can cause negative health outcomes or harm career trajectory. This study examines the association between workplace discrimination and unemployment among sexual and gender minorities. This cross-sectional study of n=918 SGMs was conducted in 2022 with recruitment on Reddit. All individuals had to be 18 years of age or older, reside in the United States, and identify as a sexual and/or gender minority. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of unemployment among SGMs. A total of 28.43% were …

Subacute Ot Interventions Impact On Qol: Sci, Caitlyn Nicholson

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI) are commonly discharged from outpatient occupational therapy (OT) services after working on functional impairments and not occupations that are meaningful. Without rehabilitation of meaningful occupations, quality of life (QOL) can be impacted. In community settings, OT services have more flexibility to work on more meaningful occupations because they are not limited by the billing constraints in traditional outpatient therapy clinics. This poster presents a scoping review looking at traditional rehabilitation interventions and compares them with non-traditional rehabilitation interventions and their impacts on quality of life.

Addressing Sexual Health Literacy For Older Adults, Riley David

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

When polled, two-thirds of older adults aged 65–80 years said they were interested in sex. More than 50% of the sample said sex was important to their quality of life. The incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among individuals 55+ has consistently increased, with rates more than doubled over the last decade. Sex is an activity of daily living that encompasses sexual activity, intimacy, sexual expression, and much more. Occupational therapists can address participation in this area for all adult clients. Comprehensive educational programming for sexual health could promote safe and pleasurable participation in sex for older adults. The aim …

Aquatic Therapy For Children With Cerebral Palsy, Caitlyn Menard, Kyla Campbell

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Aquatic therapy interventions facilitate engagement in play participation for children with cerebral palsy (CP) by strengthening the child's motor skills. Reviewers analyzed how aquatic therapy interventions enhance engagement in play participation through motor function for children with CP and addressed the significance of aquatic therapy program development. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were utilized throughout this systematic review. All studies were peer-reviewed, included children with CP ages 0-13, included either aquatic therapy interventions utilizing motor tasks or had outcomes related to increased play participation, and were published after January 1, 2013. Eight articles met inclusion …

Mobility Devices For Children With Cerebral Palsy, Lauren Mochnal, Meaghan Burns, Zachery Edwards

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

For children aged 0-3 years, participation in play, education, and social interactions are essential for daily life and functioning. However, children diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) experience mobility challenges which present barriers to these activities. A systematic review was conducted to examine the benefit of assistive devices in improving both mobility and social participation for children with CP through an occupational therapy lens. A literature search was conducted, and existing research was synthesized following guidelines from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Nine articles met the inclusion criteria for the review, and evidence quality, including risk …

Use Of Driving Simulation In Off-Road Screenings, Jake Davis

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Driving is a cornerstone to an individual's independence and allows for participation in a number of occupations including work, leisure, and social participation. There is an overwhelming need for off-road driving screenings in Rhode Island that is not currently being met. This project aimed to address this community gap by providing off-road driving screenings. Six individuals were included in the project with various diagnoses including autism and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disability, developmental delay, non-verbal learning disorder (NVLD), anxiety disorder, and stroke. To conduct the off-road driving screenings, the Occupational Therapy Driver Off-Road Assessment Battery (OT-DORA) and a …