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Evaluating A Technology-Mediated Hpv Vaccination Awareness Intervention: A Controlled, Quasi-Experimental, Mixed Methods Study, Heather M. Brandt, Beth Sundstrom, Courtney M. Monroe, Gabrielle Turner-Mcgrievy, Chelsea Larsen, Melissa Stansbury, Karen Magradey, Andrea Gibson, Delia Smith West Dec 2020

Evaluating A Technology-Mediated Hpv Vaccination Awareness Intervention: A Controlled, Quasi-Experimental, Mixed Methods Study, Heather M. Brandt, Beth Sundstrom, Courtney M. Monroe, Gabrielle Turner-Mcgrievy, Chelsea Larsen, Melissa Stansbury, Karen Magradey, Andrea Gibson, Delia Smith West

Faculty Publications

College-aged women and men are an important catch-up population for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination interventions. Limited research has explored technology-mediated HPV vaccination awareness interventions aimed at college students. The purpose was to evaluate a novel, technology-mediated, social media-based intervention to promote HPV vaccination among college students. A controlled, quasi-experimental, mixed methods study examined the feasibility of a technology-based intervention among two undergraduate classes ( = 58) at a public university in the southeastern United States of America. Classes were randomized to receive one of two cancer prevention programs (i.e., HPV vaccination (intervention) or healthy weight (control)). Both programs contained eight …


Information Uncertainty: A Correlate For Acute Stress Disorder During The Covid-19 Outbreak In China, Danhua Lin, Daniela B. Friedman Ph.D., Shan Qiao Ph.D., Cheuk Chi Tam, Xiaoyan Li, Xiaoming Li Ph.D. Dec 2020

Information Uncertainty: A Correlate For Acute Stress Disorder During The Covid-19 Outbreak In China, Danhua Lin, Daniela B. Friedman Ph.D., Shan Qiao Ph.D., Cheuk Chi Tam, Xiaoyan Li, Xiaoming Li Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Background: Individuals’ stress in responding to the current COVID-19 pandemic may be exacerbated by information uncertainty driven by inconsistent, unverified, and conflicting news from various sources. The current study aims to test if information uncertainty during the COVID-19 outbreak was related to acute stress disorder (ASD) over and above other psychosocial stressors.

Methods: An anonymous online survey was conducted with 7800 college students throughout China from January 31 through February 11, 2020. Existing scales were modified to measure ASD and six potential stressors including information uncertainty during the COVID-19 outbreak. Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to assess the unique association …


Lc-Ms/Ms Quantification Of Nevirapine And Its Metabolites In Hair For Assessing Long-Term Adherence, Haoran Yang, Liuxi Chu, Yan Wu, Wei Wang, Jin Yang, Quan Zhang, Shan Qiao Ph.D., Xiaoming Li Ph. D., Zhiyong Shen, Yuejiao Zhou, Shuaifeng Liu, Huihua Deng Dec 2020

Lc-Ms/Ms Quantification Of Nevirapine And Its Metabolites In Hair For Assessing Long-Term Adherence, Haoran Yang, Liuxi Chu, Yan Wu, Wei Wang, Jin Yang, Quan Zhang, Shan Qiao Ph.D., Xiaoming Li Ph. D., Zhiyong Shen, Yuejiao Zhou, Shuaifeng Liu, Huihua Deng

Faculty Publications

The adherence assessment based on the combination of nevirapine (NVP) and its two metabolites (2-hydroxynevirapine and 3-hydroxynevirapine) would more comprehensively and accurately reflect long-term adherence than that of a single prototype. This study aimed to develop a specific, sensitive and selective method for simultaneous detection of the three compounds in hair and explore whether there was consistency among the three compounds in assessing long-term adherence. Furthermore, 75 HIV-positive patients who were taking the NVP drug were randomly recruited and divided into two groups (high-and low-adherence group). All participants self-reported their days of oral drug administration per month and provided their …


External Stoma Diversion: A Palliative Measure For Peristomal Wound Healing In Resource-Limited Settings, Rachel W. Davis, Youmna A. Sherif, Catherine Anne Morrison Dec 2020

External Stoma Diversion: A Palliative Measure For Peristomal Wound Healing In Resource-Limited Settings, Rachel W. Davis, Youmna A. Sherif, Catherine Anne Morrison

Faculty Publications

The provision of intestinal stoma care is challenging in austere settings due to limitations in surgical and wound care access as well as the high cost and sparsity of ostomy supplies. As a result, many surgical patients suffer from ostomy-related complications such as peristomal wounds and are unable to find relief for these complications from standard treatments and measures. This article describes the external stoma diversion, a cost-effective palliative surgical procedure that assists in the healing of peristomal wounds in resource-limited settings.


Parkindex: Validation And Application Of A Pragmatic Measure Of Park Access And Use, Andrew T. Kaczynski, S. Morgan Hughey, Ellen W. Stowe, Marilyn E. Wende, J. Aaron Hipp, Elizabeth L. Oliphant, Jasper Schipperijn Dec 2020

Parkindex: Validation And Application Of A Pragmatic Measure Of Park Access And Use, Andrew T. Kaczynski, S. Morgan Hughey, Ellen W. Stowe, Marilyn E. Wende, J. Aaron Hipp, Elizabeth L. Oliphant, Jasper Schipperijn

Faculty Publications

Composite metrics integrating park availability, features, and quality for a given address or neighborhood are lacking. The purposes of this study were to describe the validation, application, and demonstration of ParkIndex in four diverse communities. This study occurred in Fall 2018 in 128 census block groups within Seattle(WA), Brooklyn(NY), Raleigh(NC), and Greenville County(SC). All parks within a half-mile buffer were audited to calculate a composite park quality score, and select households provided data about use of proximal parks via an online, map-based survey. For each household, the number of parks, total park acreage, and average park quality score within one …


The Role Of Mental Health On The Relationship Between Food Insecurity And Immunologic Outcome Among People Living With Hiv In Guangxi, China, Cheng Chen, Xueying Yang, Chengbo Zeng, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Shan Qiao Ph.D., Yuejiao Zhou Nov 2020

The Role Of Mental Health On The Relationship Between Food Insecurity And Immunologic Outcome Among People Living With Hiv In Guangxi, China, Cheng Chen, Xueying Yang, Chengbo Zeng, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Shan Qiao Ph.D., Yuejiao Zhou

Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND

Previous studies showed that food insecurity could adversely affect clinical outcomes of people living with HIV (PLWH). The mental health pathways of such effects are suggested in existing literature, but empirical data are limited in resource-limited settings.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study aims to explore the role of depressive symptoms and anxiety on the association between food insecurity and CD4 counts among a sample of 2,987 PLWH in Guangxi, China. Path analysis was used to examine a hypothetical model and delta ztest was used to assess the indirect effects of food insecurity on CD4 counts through depressive symptoms and …


Development Of A Comprehensive Measure Of Organizational Readiness (Motivation × Capacity) For Implementation: A Study Protocol, Timothy J. Walker, Heather M. Brandt, Abraham Wandersman, Jonathan Scaccia, Andrea Lamont, Lauren Workman, Emanuelle Dias, Pamela M. Diamond, Derek W. Craig, Maria E. Fernandez Nov 2020

Development Of A Comprehensive Measure Of Organizational Readiness (Motivation × Capacity) For Implementation: A Study Protocol, Timothy J. Walker, Heather M. Brandt, Abraham Wandersman, Jonathan Scaccia, Andrea Lamont, Lauren Workman, Emanuelle Dias, Pamela M. Diamond, Derek W. Craig, Maria E. Fernandez

Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Organizational readiness is important for the implementation of evidence-based interventions. Currently, there is a critical need for a comprehensive, valid, reliable, and pragmatic measure of organizational readiness that can be used throughout the implementation process. This study aims to develop a readiness measure that can be used to support implementation in two critical public health settings: federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and schools. The measure is informed by the Interactive Systems Framework for Dissemination and Implementation and R = MC heuristic (readiness = motivation × innovation-specific capacity × general capacity). The study aims are to adapt and further develop …


Building Capacity In Dissemination And Implementation Science: A Systematic Review Of The Academic Literature On Teaching And Training Initiatives, Rachel E. Davis, Danielle D'Lima Oct 2020

Building Capacity In Dissemination And Implementation Science: A Systematic Review Of The Academic Literature On Teaching And Training Initiatives, Rachel E. Davis, Danielle D'Lima

Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The field of dissemination and implementation (D&I) science has grown significantly over recent years. Alongside this, an increased demand for training in D&I from researchers and implementers has been seen. Research describing and evaluating D&I training opportunities, referred to here as 'capacity building initiatives' (CBIs), can help provide an understanding of different methods of training as well as training successes and challenges. However, to gain a more detailed understanding of the evidence-base and how D&I CBIs are being reported in publications, a field-wide examination of the academic literature is required. METHODS: Systematic review to identify the type and range …


Association Between Dietary Inflammatory Index And Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus In Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China, Wenhui Fu, Hualian Pei, Nitin Shivaooa, James R. Hébert, Tao Luo, Tian Tian, Dilibaier Alimu, Zewen Zhang, Jianghong Dai Oct 2020

Association Between Dietary Inflammatory Index And Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus In Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China, Wenhui Fu, Hualian Pei, Nitin Shivaooa, James R. Hébert, Tao Luo, Tian Tian, Dilibaier Alimu, Zewen Zhang, Jianghong Dai

Faculty Publications

Background Diet and inflammation have both been studied in relation to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the association between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®) and T2DM. Methods Subjects were adults enrolled in the baseline study of the Xinjiang multi-ethnic natural population cohort and health follow-up study from January to May 2019. The study involved 5,105 subjects (58.7% men) between 35 and 74 years of age. The DII score was calculated from a data obtained via a food frequency questionnaire consisting of 127 food items. Results Logistic regression analyses were used to …


Terminal Logic Behavior And Strategic Defection Of Governmental Officials During Presidential Transitions In Guatemala: Implications For The Sustainability Of Food And Nutrition Security Policy, Jessica L. Escobar-Alegria, Edward A. Frongillo Jr., Christine E. Blake Oct 2020

Terminal Logic Behavior And Strategic Defection Of Governmental Officials During Presidential Transitions In Guatemala: Implications For The Sustainability Of Food And Nutrition Security Policy, Jessica L. Escobar-Alegria, Edward A. Frongillo Jr., Christine E. Blake

Faculty Publications

Background: Presidents with no possibility of re-election overvalue far-future rewards and succumb to terminal logic behavior (TLB), responding to end-of-tenure legacy concerns despite political context. Government authorities perceiving the outgoing government is losing power at the end of term behave under the logic of strategic defection (SD), dissociating from the outgoing government once it is perceived powerless. In countries where re-election is impossible and government turnover and inconstant political parties are concerns, governmental officials at all levels may show TLB and SD during transitions that affect policy sustainability. Objectives: This study aimed to understand the context during presidential transitions that …


Parental Concerns And Uptake Of Childhood Vaccines In Rural Tanzania – A Mixed Methods Study, Lavanya Vasudevan, Joy Noel Baumgartner, Sara Moses, Esther Ngadaya, Sayoki Godfrey Mfinanga, Jan Ostermann Oct 2020

Parental Concerns And Uptake Of Childhood Vaccines In Rural Tanzania – A Mixed Methods Study, Lavanya Vasudevan, Joy Noel Baumgartner, Sara Moses, Esther Ngadaya, Sayoki Godfrey Mfinanga, Jan Ostermann

Faculty Publications

Background

Vaccine hesitancy has been recognized as an important barrier to timely vaccinations around the world, including in sub-Saharan Africa. In Tanzania, 1 in 4 children is not fully vaccinated. The objective of this mixed methods study was to describe and contextualize parental concerns towards vaccines in Tanzania.

Methods

Between 2016 and 2017, we conducted a cross-sectional survey (n = 134) and four focus group discussions (FGDs, n = 38) with mothers of children under 2 years of age residing in Mtwara region in Southern Tanzania. The survey and FGDs assessed vaccination knowledge and concerns and barriers to timely vaccinations. …


The Role Of Paraprofessionals In The Mental Health Structure Of India, Amy Abraham Oct 2020

The Role Of Paraprofessionals In The Mental Health Structure Of India, Amy Abraham

Senior Theses

The mental health treatment gap in India is part of a growing public health crisis, with over 95% of those in need of services never receiving them. Over 197 million Indians suffer from at least one diagnosable mental health disorder, and this number continues to grow given the treatment gap. The treatment gap is a result of four major factors: lack of government support, stigma, limited treatment facilities, and the dearth of professionals able to provide treatment. The current study aimed to analyze several factors of paraprofessional led mental health interventions including setting, treatments delivered, treatment models, and client outcomes. …


An Analysis Of How Stress Impacts Dietary Habits In First-Year Students, Matthew Telfer Oct 2020

An Analysis Of How Stress Impacts Dietary Habits In First-Year Students, Matthew Telfer

Senior Theses

The majority of students will experience stress during their first year at college. Stress can have many ill effects on the well-being of a first-year student and can even be a significant factor in weight gain – hence the term “The Freshman 15”. Sixty seven first-year students at the University of South Carolina were recruited to participate in a sixteen-item questionnaire focused on analyzing the relationship between stress and dietary habits. It was hypothesized that first -year students who had higher levels of stress would have significantly more unhealthy eating habits than first-year students who had lower levels of stress. …


Package Warning Labels For Communicating Relative Risks Of Cigarettes, Heated Tobacco Products, And E-Cigarettes, Yoo Jin Cho Oct 2020

Package Warning Labels For Communicating Relative Risks Of Cigarettes, Heated Tobacco Products, And E-Cigarettes, Yoo Jin Cho

Theses and Dissertations

Package warning labeling policy is a fundamental public health strategy for communicating about tobacco product risks. The rapidly growing markets for novel tobacco products, such as heated tobacco products (HTPs) and e-cigarettes (ECs), make it critical to determine the characteristics of effective warning label policies for these products, which have lower levels of risk compared to cigarettes according to available evidence. Whether warning labels can communicate information about a continuum of risk across tobacco products is unexplored.

This dissertation investigated two warning label systems for communicating the relative risks of cigarettes, HTPs, and ECs: (1) varying warning sizes as a …


National Nutrition Strategies That Focus On Maternal, Infant, And Young Child Nutrition In Southeast Asia Do Not Consistently Align With Regional And International Recommendations, Tuan T. Nguyen, Ashley Darnell, Amy Weissman, Jennifer Cashin, Mellissa Withers, Roger Mathisen, Karin Lapping, Timothy D. Mastro, Edward A. Frongillo Jr. Oct 2020

National Nutrition Strategies That Focus On Maternal, Infant, And Young Child Nutrition In Southeast Asia Do Not Consistently Align With Regional And International Recommendations, Tuan T. Nguyen, Ashley Darnell, Amy Weissman, Jennifer Cashin, Mellissa Withers, Roger Mathisen, Karin Lapping, Timothy D. Mastro, Edward A. Frongillo Jr.

Faculty Publications

We examined the consistency of national nutrition strategies and action plans (NNS) focusing on maternal, infant, and young child nutrition in Southeast Asia with regional and international recommendations. Between July and December 2017, we identified and extracted information on context, objectives, interventions, indicators, strategies, and coordination mechanisms from the most recent NNS in nine Southeast Asian countries. All NNS described context, objectives, and the following interventions: antenatal care, micronutrient supplementation during pregnancy, breastfeeding promotion, improved complementary feeding, nutrition in emergencies, and food fortification or dietary diversity. Micronutrient supplementation for young children was included in eight NNS; breastfeeding promotion during pregnancy …


African American Emerging Adult Perspectives On Unintended Pregnancy And Meeting Their Needs With Mobile Technology: Mixed Methods Qualitative Study, Lucy Annang Ingram, Crystal Stafford, Quentin Mccollum, Mckenzie Isreal Oct 2020

African American Emerging Adult Perspectives On Unintended Pregnancy And Meeting Their Needs With Mobile Technology: Mixed Methods Qualitative Study, Lucy Annang Ingram, Crystal Stafford, Quentin Mccollum, Mckenzie Isreal

Faculty Publications

Background: In the United States, a disproportionate number of unintended pregnancies occur among African Americans, particularly those in their later teenage years and early 20s. Mobile technology is becoming more ubiquitous as a method for health promotion; however, relatively little research has been done with this population to determine their perspectives about unintended pregnancy, the potential of successfully using mobile technology to prevent unintended pregnancy, and the content of such programs.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to obtain the perspectives of African American emerging adults about unintended pregnancy and the use of mobile technology to reduce unintended pregnancy …


Maternal Preventive Dental Services Utilization: The Role Of Preconception Oral Health Counseling In And The Association With Birth Outcomes: Evidence From South Carolina Prams, Monique Johnette Williams Oct 2020

Maternal Preventive Dental Services Utilization: The Role Of Preconception Oral Health Counseling In And The Association With Birth Outcomes: Evidence From South Carolina Prams, Monique Johnette Williams

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study is to examine maternal preventive dental services utilization by analyzing the role of preconception oral health counseling in utilization of dental cleaning services before or during pregnancy and the association of utilization with preterm birth (<37 weeks) and small for gestational age (SGA) (same sex newborns having birth weight for gestational age below the 10th percentile of the reference population as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO)). Studies suggest that unfavorable maternal oral conditions have significance in birth outcomes, specifically periodontal disease (periodontitis), an oral inflammatory condition which is shown to be a risk factor for preterm birth and low birth weight (Dortbudak et al., 2005; Guimarães et al., 2012; Tejada et al., 2012). Dental cleaning before and during pregnancy is effective in the prevention of oral disease including gingivitis and periodontitis (Johnson et al., 2006; Kurien et al., 2013; Steinberg et al., 2013).

Cross-sectional 2012-2015 data from the South Carolina Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (SC PRAMS) survey, a population-based surveillance system on prenatal, perinatal and postpartum experiences of resident mothers who recently delivered a live-born infant, were analyzed using weighted analyses in SAS. Analyses included demographic univariate analyses, Rao-Scott Chi-squared tests of significance to study differences between groups, and multivariate logistic …


Early Breastfeeding Practices Contribute To Exclusive Breastfeeding In Bangladesh, Vietnam And Ethiopia, Phuong Hong Nguyen, Sunny S. Kim, Lan Mai Tran, Purnima Menon, Edward A. Frongillo Jr. Oct 2020

Early Breastfeeding Practices Contribute To Exclusive Breastfeeding In Bangladesh, Vietnam And Ethiopia, Phuong Hong Nguyen, Sunny S. Kim, Lan Mai Tran, Purnima Menon, Edward A. Frongillo Jr.

Faculty Publications

Limited evidence exists on the complex relationship among interventions, early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF), prelacteal feeding and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). We examined whether early breastfeeding practices are associated with EBF and how much improving EIBF and non-prelacteal feeding contributes to increased prevalence of EBF. Survey data were collected in 2010 and 2014 as part of impact evaluations of Alive & Thrive (A&T) interventions to improve infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices in Bangladesh, Vietnam and Ethiopia. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine effects of interventions and early breastfeeding practices on EBF. Structural equation modelling quantified the direct …


Examining Parental Perceptions And Decisions To Uptake Child Influenza Immunizations: Assessing Pandemic And Policy Impacts On Vaccination Rates Following The H1n1 Pandemic, And The Acip Laiv Preferential Recommendation Revocation, Amir H. Mehrabi Oct 2020

Examining Parental Perceptions And Decisions To Uptake Child Influenza Immunizations: Assessing Pandemic And Policy Impacts On Vaccination Rates Following The H1n1 Pandemic, And The Acip Laiv Preferential Recommendation Revocation, Amir H. Mehrabi

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction

2009 H1N1 Pandemic: The historical 2009 H1N1 Influenza pandemic, which had a CDC estimated accrued disease burden of 100.5 million illnesses, 936,000 hospitalizations, and 75,000 deaths from 2009 to 2018, resulted in a declared state of emergency nationally, with ensuing diminished vaccine confidence and amplified fears of infection, prompting some to pursue flu vaccination, and others to forego. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommend an annual flu vaccine for individuals 6 months of age and older as the “first and best” defense against influenza, a low percentage …


Effect Of Lifestyle, Medical School Culture And Income On Medical Students' Decision To Pursue A Primary Care Career In Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Abdullah Alhussain Oct 2020

Effect Of Lifestyle, Medical School Culture And Income On Medical Students' Decision To Pursue A Primary Care Career In Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Abdullah Alhussain

Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to examine the relationship of medical school students who select primary care as their career specialty. Based on extensive literature review, we focused on the three main factors that influence students to consider career specialty: lifestyle, income, and medical school culture. With a paper questionnaire of a cross-sectional study survey at ten medical schools, we were able to collect 1,006 participants from fourth and fifth year students. The clear majority of students considered lifestyle characteristics to be a significant influence in their career decision (PP<.05). Also, we found there was a significant relationship between students’ specialty choices and income variables. The result showed us that medical school culture played a notable role in terms of forming the students’ decisions in different ways. First, specialty characteristics were strongly correlated with career consideration. Second, having advising and mentoring within the medical school enhanced the probability of choosing primary care specialty. Finally, the effect of the primary care course was significant and closely related to the choice of the primary care specialty. In conclusion, the study demonstrated the impact of lifestyle, income, and medical school culture on student career selection. These results are in parallel with previous studies conducted in many countries around the world.


Elementary Classroom Teachers’ Self-Reported Use Of Movement Integration Products And Perceived Facilitators And Barriers Related To Product Use, Roddrick Dugger, Aaron Rafferty, Ethan Hunt, Michael W. Beets, Collin Andrew Webster, Brian Chen, Jeffrey Michael Rehling, Robert Glenn Weaver Sep 2020

Elementary Classroom Teachers’ Self-Reported Use Of Movement Integration Products And Perceived Facilitators And Barriers Related To Product Use, Roddrick Dugger, Aaron Rafferty, Ethan Hunt, Michael W. Beets, Collin Andrew Webster, Brian Chen, Jeffrey Michael Rehling, Robert Glenn Weaver

Faculty Publications

Movement integration (MI) products are designed to provide children with physical activity during general education classroom time. The purpose of this study was to examine elementary classroom teachers’ self-reported use of MI products and subsequent perceptions of the facilitators of and barriers to MI product use. This study utilized a mixed-methods design. Elementary classroom teachers (n = 40) at four schools each tested four of six common MI products in their classroom for one week. Teachers completed a daily diary, documenting duration and frequency of product use. Following each product test, focus groups were conducted with teachers to assess facilitators …


Intermittent Pneumatic Compression For Venous Thromboembolism Prevention: A Systematic Review On Factors Affecting Adherence, Richard Greenall, Rachel E. Davis Sep 2020

Intermittent Pneumatic Compression For Venous Thromboembolism Prevention: A Systematic Review On Factors Affecting Adherence, Richard Greenall, Rachel E. Davis

Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVE: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a potentially fatal complication of hospitalisation. Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) is one approach to reducing the likelihood of a VTE. Adherence to IPC is known to be inadequate though the reasons for this remain unclear. This systematic review explores factors that affect adherence to IPC in the inpatient context. METHODS: Information sources-EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsycINFO were searched for literature between January 1960 and May 2019. Eligibility criteria-studies were included if they focused on inpatient care and examined factors affecting adherence to IPC devices. RESULTS: Included studies-a total of 20 out of 1476 studies were included. …


Building Implementation Science In Nutrition, Andrea M. Warren, Edward A. Frongillo Jr., Rahul Rawat Sep 2020

Building Implementation Science In Nutrition, Andrea M. Warren, Edward A. Frongillo Jr., Rahul Rawat

Faculty Publications

The field of nutrition has been investing in the development of many nutrition-specific and -sensitive policies and programs aimed at improving population-level malnutrition in all its forms. When there is a need to learn about a new system, programmatic context, or target population to understand how to effectively deploy an intervention to help improve nutrition, it is important to be able to ask a broad range of questions, both in topic and in scope. Our aim is to provide a simple and conceptually clear definition and principles to elaborate the science of implementation for nutrition to distinguish it from other …


Nanoparticles As Antibiotic-Delivery Vehicles (Advs) Overcome Resistance By Mrsa And Other Mdr Bacterial Pathogens: The Grenade Hypothesis, Amjed Alabresm, Yung Pin Chen, Savannah Wichter-Chandler, Jamie Lead, Brian C. Benicewicz Sep 2020

Nanoparticles As Antibiotic-Delivery Vehicles (Advs) Overcome Resistance By Mrsa And Other Mdr Bacterial Pathogens: The Grenade Hypothesis, Amjed Alabresm, Yung Pin Chen, Savannah Wichter-Chandler, Jamie Lead, Brian C. Benicewicz

Faculty Publications

Objectives

The aim of this study was to examine how the concentrated delivery of less effective antibiotics, such as the Β-lactam penicillin G, by linkage to nanoparticles (NPs), could influence the killing efficiency against various pathogenic bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other multidrug resistant (MDR) strains.

Methods

The Β-lactam antibiotic penicillin G (PenG) was passively sorbed to fluorescent polystyrene NPs (20 nm) that were surface-functionalized with carboxylic acid (COO-NPs) or sulfate groups (SO4-NPs) to form a PenG-NP complex. Antimicrobial activities of PenG-NPs were evaluated against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including antibiotic resistant strains. …


A Method To Measure The Partitioning Coefficient Of Volatile Organic Compounds In Nanoparticles, Guiying Rao, Jeonghyeon Ahn, Abigail Evans, Michelle Casey, Eric P. Vejerano Aug 2020

A Method To Measure The Partitioning Coefficient Of Volatile Organic Compounds In Nanoparticles, Guiying Rao, Jeonghyeon Ahn, Abigail Evans, Michelle Casey, Eric P. Vejerano

Faculty Publications

The partitioning behavior of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into nanoparticles is less studied compared to those of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) because of the lower concentration of the VOCs that is expected to partition into particles. One challenge in measuring the accurate partition coefficient of VOCs is quantifying their low mass fraction that sorbed on nanoparticles and differentiating them from the high VOC concentrations present in the gas-phase. Systematically characterizing the partitioning coefficient at a specific environmental condition is also difficult when sampling in the field. During field sampling, thermal and non-thermal issues such as sampling artifacts and non-equilibrium conditions …


Men’S Vasectomy Knowledge, Attitudes, And Information-Seeking Behaviors In The Southern United States: Results From An Exploratory Survey, Ashley L. White, Rachel E. Davis, Deborah Lynn Billings Phd, Emily S. Mann Aug 2020

Men’S Vasectomy Knowledge, Attitudes, And Information-Seeking Behaviors In The Southern United States: Results From An Exploratory Survey, Ashley L. White, Rachel E. Davis, Deborah Lynn Billings Phd, Emily S. Mann

Faculty Publications

Vasectomy is one of the few options men have to manage their reproductive capacity and take on a more equitable role in pregnancy prevention. While the method is underused throughout the United States, the southern states have a lower prevalence rate compared to the rest of the country. Existing survey research does not assess what men know or think about the procedure as a means of understanding why this is the case. We created and conducted an exploratory survey to assess men’s knowledge, attitudes, and information-seeking behaviors about vasectomy in the Southern United States. We used targeted Facebook advertising to …


A Letter To Reconsider The Conditions For Testing Decontaminated N95 Respirators For Emergency Reuse To Address Shortage, Eric P. Vejerano, Jeonghyeon Ahn Jul 2020

A Letter To Reconsider The Conditions For Testing Decontaminated N95 Respirators For Emergency Reuse To Address Shortage, Eric P. Vejerano, Jeonghyeon Ahn

Faculty Publications

The battle with COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the shortage of personal protective equipment, particularly, N95 respirators. Healthcare workers who reused N95 respirators may resort to unproven methods of cleaning/sterilization that can severely compromise the respirators’ filtration efficiency. A recently issued guideline will test decontaminated N95 respirators against particles with a median diameter of 0.075 ± 0.020 µm at a flow rate of 85 L min–1. For emergency reuse, these conditions may be too stringent. N95 respirators tested at this flow rate had predicted efficiencies of < 69%, assuming complete degradation of their electrostatic coating. Experimental efficiencies were ~15% lower. For emergency reuse, we recommend to either adjust the flow rate closer to normal breathing, or the size of the test particle should reflect that of virus-laden respiratory aerosols (~> 0.5 µm). By reconsidering the test conditions, a substantial fraction of used/decontaminated respirators can …


Aging With Hiv In The United States: Trends And Impact Of Hospital Stays On Inpatient Resource Utilization, And Costs Of Care, 2003-2015, Khairul Alam Siddiqi Jul 2020

Aging With Hiv In The United States: Trends And Impact Of Hospital Stays On Inpatient Resource Utilization, And Costs Of Care, 2003-2015, Khairul Alam Siddiqi

Theses and Dissertations

Background:

Due to advances in Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), people living with HIV (PLWH) live longer in the United States. Aging prolongs exposure to HIV and antiretroviral drugs, which could lead to an elevated risk of developing multiple age-related comorbidities [HIV Associated Non-AIDS (HANA) conditions], earlier for PLWH. Higher comorbidity burdens among older PLWH may require greater use of inpatient care, i.e., higher hospitalization, inpatient resource utilization, and costs. This study examined the trends and characteristics of comorbidities, resource utilization, and costs of hospital stays with HIV (HSWH) compared to hospital stays without HIV (HSWOH). We also assessed trends for resource …


Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis And Its Association With Inflammation And Meditarrenean Diet, Tushar Trivedi Jul 2020

Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis And Its Association With Inflammation And Meditarrenean Diet, Tushar Trivedi

Theses and Dissertations

Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis (ICAS) is associated with 8 to 10% of all strokes in the U.S. Although there is some evidence that in the Asian population inflammation plays a role in asymptomatic ICAS, it has not been shown in the U.S. population. Prior studies have shown associations between diet and regulation of inflammation. Mediterranean dietary pattern has been associated with lower levels of inflammation and cardiovascular disease (CVD). In light of the important role of inflammation in intermediate stroke risk factors including atherosclerotic disease, and potential role of diet in modulating inflammation, understanding individuals’ diets according to their inflammatory properties …


Examining The Organizational Capacity Of Public Libraries That Offer Obesity Prevention Programs, Olivia Whitt Jul 2020

Examining The Organizational Capacity Of Public Libraries That Offer Obesity Prevention Programs, Olivia Whitt

Theses and Dissertations

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) is a federally funded grant program that helps SNAP-eligible populations make healthy choices, like those outlined by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Together with implementation agencies (IAs) and local sites, SNAP-Ed provides direct nutrition education and facilitates policy, systems, and environmental strategies (PSEs) such as farmers markets and community gardens. This qualitative research investigated two specific aims: 1.) Understand the elements of organization capacity that influence a public library’s ability to implement obesity prevention programs and 2.) Evaluate the need for library staff public health knowledge …