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Parental Deportations: A Review of The Effects on the Children Impacted
Full text link2025 Spring Expo Online Poster Presentation Social & Behavioral Scienceshttps://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/sp-expo/1085/thumbnail.jp
Structural basis for HIV-1 Gag assembly and MA maturation
Full text link2025 Spring Expo Poster Presentation Biological & Life Scienceshttps://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/sp-expo/1091/thumbnail.jp
Learning is Vital, But What Is It?: Creating Organizational Learning Capacities Through Team-Centered Operational Debriefs
No full text2025 ASEM 620 Capstone Projecthttps://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/asem/1005/thumbnail.jp
Building a Research Data Catalog
Full text link2025 Southern Mississippi Institutional Repository Conference, Hattiesburg, MS, April 24-25, 202
Optimizing Recruitment Strategies, Outcome Measures, and Intervention in Clinical Research with Adults with Multiple Sclerosis: Insights from the Tele-Exercise and Multiple Sclerosis (TEAMS) Study
Full text linkBackground: Recruiting people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) into research can be a significant challenge. This is often due to limited awareness of the research objectives, lack of accessibility, and restrictive inclusion criteria. In addition to a general reluctance to participate, assessing multiple sclerosis (MS) and assigning appropriate interventions can be challenging due to the heterogeneity of symptoms. Identifying outcome measures that accurately reflect a participant’s perception and functional performance, while remaining sensitive to change across different levels of disability, poses a challenge. Methods: Data from the Tele-Exercise and Multiple Sclerosis (TEAMS) trial was analyzed to identify effective recruitment strategies (Study 1), explore the correlation of a subjective scale with the five performance-based measures at all study timepoints (Study 2), and study the utilization of subjective and objective measures for guiding intervention assignment (Study 3). Results: In Study 1, the engagement framework utilized resulted in more than 1700 PwMS screened, and 759 enrolled in the TEAMS study. In Study 2, the correlation was statistically significant (p\u3c0.001) between the Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS) and all the performance-based measures at all time points. A chi-square test with Monte Carlo simulation identified two statistically significant associations between the PDDS scale and the minimal important difference (MCID) with the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) (p=0.04), and the Five Times Sit to Stand (FTSTS) (p=0.002). Study 3 showed a strong, statistically significant positive correlation between the Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW) and PDDS scores (rs = .72, p \u3c .001) as well as a strong positive correlation between T25FW benchmarks (\u3c 6s, 6-7.99s, \u3e 8s, unable to complete) and PDDS modified ranges (0-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7) (rs = 0.73, p \u3c .001). A chi-square test with Monte Carlo simulation showed a significant association between the TEAMS intervention level and the PDDS modified ranges (p= 0.005). Conclusion: Study 1 highlights the importance of engaging stakeholders, clinicians, and organizations in achieving participant enrollment goals. Studies 2 and 3 underscore the value of combining subjective and objective measures for assessment and intervention assignment. Together, these findings emphasize the significance of stakeholder engagement and personalized assessment in advancing MS research
Discarded People
Full text linkABSTRACT This is the first chapter of the novel, Discarded People, a character-driven story about a group of young Black friends navigating love, identity, and community. As they form deep connections with one another, they face personal struggles that challenge their sense of belonging and self-discovery. The narrative explores themes of family, friendship, and the search for purpose, while highlighting the complexities of building a chosen family amidst personal and societal pressures. In chapter one, the main characters are introduced; Winnie, Franklin, Jelani, Adanna, Eban and Chance. As the characters prepare for their final year in high school while navigating their new friendships, they battle with different issues and try to cope while navigating self-identity and reveling in their time together where they just get to be teenagers. Adulthood is right around the corner and the group is forming connections that will last them their lifetimes
Influence of Outpatient Clinic Visits on Receipt of the Covid-19 Vaccine among People with Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases
No full textBackground/Objective: Clinicians are trusted sources for health advice for people living with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRD), and they may influence the vaccine decision-making during outpatient visits. We aimed to determine factors associated with receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine during the immediate follow-up interval after rheumatology or primary care provider (PCP) clinic visits. Methods: We used the electronic health record (EHR) to conduct a retrospective cohort study of established patients with AIRD at our institution. The primary outcome was presence/absence of COVID-19 vaccination during the 8-day interval after a rheumatology or a PCP clinic visit. We built multivariable logistic regression models to identify factors independently associated vaccine receipt post-visit. We conducted a self-controlled case series (SCCS) analysis to compare receipt of COVID-19 vaccination during the 8-days post-visit “hazard interval” vs. 8-days pre-visit “control interval” as a sensitivity analysis. Results: We identified 2,628 individuals with 2+ rheumatology clinic visits and 493 individuals with 2+ PCP clinic visits, of whom 440 (16.7%) and 119 (24.1%) received a COVID-19 vaccine in the 8-day post-visit interval, respectively. In the multivariable logistic regression model of those with rheumatology visits, older age (OR=1.17, 95% CI 1.03 – 1.33, p=0.02,), Black race (OR=1.49, 95% CI 1.15 – 1.92, p=0.002), and use of glucocorticoids (OR=1.63, 95% CI 1.25 – 2.14, p=0.0004), immunosuppressive (OR=1.40, 95% CI 1.03 – 1.88, p=0.03) medications, and intravenous immunoglobulin (OR=1.91, 95% CI 1.16 – 3.16, p=0.01) were associated with higher odds of COVID-19 vaccination events. Among those with 2+ PCP clinic visits, only older age (OR=1.58, 95% CI 1.22 – 2.06, p=0.0006) and Black race (OR=1.70, 95% CI 1.06 – 2.72, p=0.03) were associated with a post-visit vaccine event. In the SCCS analysis, there were significantly higher rates of vaccination events during the post-visit hazard interval for rheumatology (IRR=1.87, 95% CI 1.62 – 2.18, p\u3c0.0001) and PCP (IRR=3.81, 95% CI 2.75 – 5.36, p\u3c0.0001). Conclusion: In this cohort study of diverse individuals with AIRDs, we found that age, race, and use of certain high-risk medications were associated with COVID-19 vaccination in the post-visit interval. Effective interventions aimed at improving vaccine uptake could be implemented at or soon after a clinic visit
Health Literacy, Social Determinants of Health, and the Caregiver New Diagnosis Educational Experience in Pediatric Oncology: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Research Study
No full textWhen a child is diagnosed with cancer, their caregiver receives new diagnosis education (NDE) focused on safe home care of the child; however, this caregiver-reported educational experience of receiving NDE is understudied. Among factors that may influence caregiver acquisition of NDE are caregiver health literacy (HL) and social determinants of health (SDoH). The aim of this explanatory sequential (quanQUAL) mixed methods study was to understand caregiver experiences of receiving NDE in pediatric oncology through the lens of HL and SDoH. In the quantitative phase, survey data were used to characterize caregiver HL levels, SDoH exposures, and caregiver-reported educational experience (CREE) ratings and to determine the relationship between these variables. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were employed to understand caregiver NDE experiences through the lens of HL and SDoH. Purposive sampling based on HL levels and SDoH exposures ascertained in the quantitative phase was used to identify caregivers for interviews. In the integration phase, qualitative interview results were used to explain CREE ratings across HL levels and SDoH exposures. Sixty-seven caregivers participated in the quantitative phase (mothers: 77.6%; non-Hispanic white: 65.7%; median [range] age: 34 [20-69] years; limited HL: 35.8%; adverse SDoH exposure: 71.6%; unfavorable CREE: 40.3%). Caregivers with adequate HL were more likely to rate CREE unfavorably than those with limited HL (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR]=8.0, 95%CI=1.9-34.4, p =.005). Caregivers with adverse SDoH were more likely to rate CREE unfavorably than those without adverse SDoH exposures (aOR=6.3, 95%CI=1.4-28.7, p =.017). Nineteen caregivers participated in the qualitative phase. We identified five overarching themes: (1) process of receiving NDE, (2) ways of learning, (3) sources of information, (4) caregiver readiness, and (5) deficits in provision of NDE. We found that caregivers shared many common experiences of receiving NDE across HL levels and SDoH exposures, and that these experiences were generally positive. Through results integration, we found that caregivers with limited HL relied on hands-on learning techniques and observation, while caregivers with adequate HL relied on written materials and sought additional information, suggesting the importance of determining caregiver HL level prior to initiation of new diagnosis education. Future, multi-institutional studies are needed to refine new diagnosis education in pediatric oncology within the context of caregiver HL and SDoH
Examining Replicative Capacity Of Hiv-1 Cell-To-Cell Spread And Correlates With Antibody Neutralization And Molecular Determinants In Env Glycoprotein
No full textHIV-1 infects target cells through two primary mechanisms: By attachment, binding and fusion of cell-free (CF) virions to target cells, and through cell-to-cell (CC) transmission of virions, e.g. via virological synapses. Induction of potent bnAbs through vaccination remains a key goal for HIV prevention. Given that in cell culture models CC dependent spread is more resistant to inhibition by bnAbs than CF infection, the CC mode of infection likely presents challenges for inhibiting HIV-1 infection in vivo. It is important to understand the mechanisms by which HIV-1 evades bnAbs in the context of CC spread. Our lab pioneered a novel CC neutralization (CC NAb) assay to quantify inhibition of CC infection by bnAbs. We tested the hypothesis that (i) the efficiency with which HIV Env glycoproteins (Envs) mediate CC spread correlates with their evasion from bnAb neutralization, and (ii) that differences in the CC spread efficiencies of viruses map to amino acid sequence determinants in the Env. The efficiency of HIV-1 CC spread can be described as C-C replicative capacity (ccRC). We quantified ccRC in a novel co-culture system, using CD4 T cells and replication competent HIV-1. We determined the ccRC values for 25 Env strains for which CC NAb assay neutralization data were previously determined against 10 different bnAbs. We then performed a correlation analysis to investigate the relationship between these metrics. We also examined amino acid sequence alignment of the CH0505 longitudinal Env variants with differential ccRC. We performed mutagenesis to swap domains with the most significant sequence discrepancies from CH0505.wk100 into CH0505.wk78, a variant that showed noticeably low CC spread efficiency. We then calculated the ccRC of these mutants. Distinct differences in ccRC were noted amongst Env variants. However, this did not correlate with bnAb neutralization sensitivity in the CC NAb assay, indicating escape from bnAb during CC spread may be influenced by variables other than ccRC. Upon evaluating the ccRC of the domain swapped Envs, our results indicate no gain in function in CC spread efficiency. Additional mutagenesis and structural modeling is necessary to inform which domains in Env may affect spread efficiency