Open Research Oklahoma (Oklahoma State Univ.)
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Provider-facing ehealth tool for transitioning youth with special health care needs from pediatric to adult care: Mixed methods, user-engaged usability study
No full textBackground: There is a need for medical education on health care transitions for youth with special health care needs. The Texas Transition Toolkit (the tool) supports providers through a one-stop shop for researching literature on care transitions, a catalog of care transition tools, and guides for developing care transition programs. Objective: This study aims to assess the functionality and usability of the tool with providers working with transition-aged children and youth with special health care needs (representative users). Methods: The tool was evaluated using a triangulated mixed methods case study approach consisting of a concurrent think-aloud phase, a satisfaction survey, and a survey of problem relevance and task performance to operationalize and capture functionality and usability. Our mixed methods deep dive into the functionality and usability of the tool focused on 10 representative users from one medical home in Texas and 5 website design experts. Results: Representative users found the tool to be highly relevant, as demonstrated by the satisfaction score for relevance (138/150, 92%). According to the users, the tool provided comprehensive information related to health care transitions for youth with special health care needs, with a satisfaction score of 87.3% (131/150) for comprehensive. Overall satisfaction with the tool was high at 81.92% (1065/1300) with a cutoff score of 73.33% (953.4/1300) indicating high satisfaction, but users reported relatively lower satisfaction with search (114/150, 76%) and navigation (ease of use: 114/150, 76%; hyperlinks: 163/200, 81.5%; structure: 159/200, 79.5%). They experienced search- and navigation-related problems (total problems detected: 21/31, 68%) and, based on quality checks, had a relatively low task completion rate for tasks involving finding information (60/80, 75%), which required searching and navigation. The problems identified around search and navigation functionality were relevant (relevance scores ranging from 14.5 to 22, with a cutoff score of 11.7 indicating relevance). Conclusions: The tool may help bridge the gaps in training on health care transitions for youth with special health care needs in US medical education. The tool can be used to create structured protocols to help improve provider knowledge, collaboration across pediatric and adult care providers, and the continuity of care as youth with special health care needs transition from pediatric to adult care. The results provided a road map for optimizing the tool and highlighted the importance of evaluating eHealth technologies with representative users.Community Health Sciences, Counseling and Counseling Psycholog
Effects of water availability and nutrient addition on resin duct production in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) in southeastern Oklahoma and central Georgia
No full textBark beetle outbreaks frequently kill large areas of Pinus taeda. Resin production is the main defense against these pest species. I determined the impacts of water availability (ambient vs 30% reduction) and nutrient availability (fertilized vs non-fertilized) on resin duct production in planted stands of P. taeda (ages 6 to 13) in southeastern Oklahoma and of P. taeda (ages 9 to 15) in central Georgia. In Oklahoma, reduced water availability increased duct density, but decreased duct size and ring growth, traits associated with increased mortality post bark beetle outbreak. Greater nutrient availability increased ring growth, duct count per ring, and duct relative area, traits that have been associated with survivorship post bark beetle outbreak. Therefore, drought and low nutrient availability may reduce the defenses of P. taeda against bark beetles while management to reduce stand density and increase fertility may increase defenses. In Georgia, fertilization increased diameter growth, duct area, and duct count. With throughfall exclusion, duct count , duct area, duct relative area, and duct density increased significantly with in earlywood and decreased significantly in latewood. This points toward there being a possible seasonal change in response to drought conditions, which may have an effect on resistance to bark beetle attack. Similar to Oklahoma, in Georgia greater nutrient availability caused an increased in growth as well as an increase in resin duct traits (duct count and duct area) that have been associated with increased resistance to bark beetle attack, making fertilization a viable management strategy to protect stands against bark beetles
Immunomodulatory effect of pinto beans and wheat germ on the gut-cardiovascular axis: The role of interleukin 10 and interleukin 22
No full textCardiovascular disorders (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality in the world. Yet, the risk of this disease is higher in inflamed bowel conditions. Diets low in fiber or high in saturated fat increase bowel inflammation by causing gut dysbiosis. However, the regular addition of fiber-rich whole foods, including pinto beans (PB) and wheat germ (WG), in the diet is promising in mitigating the adverse effect of high-fat feeding. These studies seek to understand the role of the anti-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-10 and -22, in maintaining homeostasis in the gut-cardiovascular axis, as well as the roles of these cytokines in mediating the effect of PB and WG, respectively, in the gut and cardiovascular tissue. WG increased protein expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and Il22 gene expression in the ileum. More so, supplemental WG repressed the expression of IL22 receptor, alpha 2 (Il22ra2), and reduced the phospho-activation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3 in the ileum. In a similar manner, IL-10 knockout (KO) mice exhibited a significantly lowered serum estrogen (E2), gut bacterial β-glucuronidase activity, and cecal butyrate. More so, KO mice showed reduced S¹¹¹⁹ phosphorylation of NOS3 in the aorta and had higher serum trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), consequently predisposing them to reduced endothelial function and cardiac fibrosis. However, supplementation of a cholesterol-rich atherogenic diet (Ath) to the KO mice increased serum estrogen and jejunum gene expression of the M2 macrophage marker Arg1. Consequently, Ath-treated KO mice had reduced bowel inflammation yet a reduced abundance of the short chain fatty acid-producing taxa Lactobacillus and Roseburia. Correspondingly, Ath-treated mice had low cecal butyrate, higher serum TMAO, cardiac fibrosis and impaired endothelial function. Finally, supplementation of PB in the Ath diet prevented the Ath-mediated reduced diversity of SCFA-producing taxa Lachnospiraceae, Lactobacillus, and Roseburia only in the Wild type (WT) mice strain. Consequently, PB increased cecal butyrate, caused a significant expansion of regulatory T cells (Tregs), and prevented vascular dysfunction only in WT mice. These studies provided mechanistic insights into the anti-inflammatory potential of WG and PB, as well as the central role of IL-22 and IL-10 in maintaining immune homeostasis in the gut
IGVC Team: Joyride self-driving car
No full textThe overarching objective of the Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition (IGVC) capstone project is to develop a self driving vehicle capable of competing in the annual IGVC Self-Drive challenge. In order to do so, the team must develop a fully-functional drive-by-wire (DBW) package on the vehicle and a complex software suite to enable autonomous operation. The modifications are being made to a GEM e2 small electric car
Spiritual connectedness through prayer as a mediator of the relationship between Indigenous language use and positive mental health
No full textObjective: The objective of this study is to understand how Indigenous language and spirituality revitalization efforts may affect mental health within Indigenous communities. Although Indigenous communities experience disproportionate rates of mental health problems, research supporting language and spirituality’s role in improving mental health is under-researched and poorly understood. Method: Data for this study are from a Community-based Participatory Research Project involving five Anishinaabe tribes in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Participants were sampled from clinic records of adults with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, living on or near the reservation, and self-identifying as American Indian (mean age = 46.3; n = 191). Result: Structural equation modeling illustrates that language use in the home is associated with positive mental health through spiritual connectedness. Conclusion: Results support tribal community expressions of the positive effects of cultural involvement for Indigenous wellbeing, and improve what is known about the interconnectedness of language and spirituality.Sociolog
Second Anglo-Boer War: 1899-1902 and the end of Britain's imperial expansion
No full textThe Second Anglo-Boer War of 1899 to 1902 was the beginning of the end of British expansionism. British military forces began using tactics such as concentration camps, as well as a harsh scorched earth policy, that brought into question, whether they were the civilized nation they believed, or if they were just as brutal and uncivilized as they perceived the natives to be. The origins of the Second Boer War can be found in the ashes of the first Boer War, as Afrikaner settlers set up their republics and threatened British economic interests in the region. Once the war began, it was a brutal effort on both sides, British forces used scorched earth tactics, including burning Boer farms and homes to the ground, and forcibly relocating Boers to camps to drive the Boers to surrender. The outcome of the Second Boer War and the violence that it brought would have ramifications that would last in both South Africa and The British Empire as a whole. Some ramifications would be an end to aggressive British colonial expansion, and a more inwardly looking British public and government
Determination of the quantity of earth’s gravity imparted on particles in a rotating cylinder fluid regime based on particle density and rotation speed
No full textThis research is an in-depth analysis of the movement of yeast -like particles in a Rotating Wall Vessel (RWV) using a series of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations. The purpose of the RWV is to counteract the effects of gravity by reducing the internal and external effects that it has on particles in cultures, in this case spherically modeled simulated yeast cells. The internal effects can be characterized as the distortion of the internal structure due to density differences, whereas the external effect results from the deformations of the particle shape resulting from collisions with the RWV walls or other particles. The RWV counteracts both effects by continuously rotating the fluid regime containing the cellular particles, allowing for a constant state of particle suspension. Using CFD simulations, an RWV with yeast cells in the fluid regime was modeled to track the acceleration and movement of these particles at various locations within the unit. Our analyses found that depending on their location in the vessel, the particles experienced different accelerations. The particle acceleration was the smallest towards the center of the fluid regime where the particles were furthest away from the walls. Specifically, the particles experienced between 0 m/s² and .2 m/s², meaning that the RWV can successfully counteract 98-100% of the acceleration due to the gravity of Earth. This work creates a repeatable framework for the analysis of how cells move in a RWV to help understand the gravitational forces that the cells experience that may trigger certain biological responses
Production and laboratory testing of groundwater tracing particles
No full textTracer tests are a primary method that water resource managers and researchers use to investigate and characterize both surface and groundwater systems. When conducting a tracer test, it is imperative that the tracer is appropriate for the system in which it is being used. Traditionally, tracers include materials such as fluorescent dye, salts, isotopes, and various colloids. However, these tracers have limited adaptability, can be difficult to detect, degrade quickly, and/or in some cases have the potential to be toxic to the study environment. The goal of the present study is to produce a new groundwater tracer particle (GTP) which is customizable and non-toxic. These GTP are intended to be utilized in the field to investigate fractured and karstic groundwater connections. The GTP are non-conservative, non-toxic, sand-sized (~1mm) particle tracers intended to survive long enough to be detected in natural water systems. The particles’ properties of color/fluorescence, density, and special properties, such as magnetism, can be altered to better suit the desired study area. A set of laboratory tracer tests are used to characterize the transport properties of the GTP. Using an ASTM standard constant head permeameter (a.k.a. a Darcy tube), GTP transport will be compared to that of a solute tracer and a silica sand tracer. The breakthrough time of the solute, GTP, and silica sand tracers were compared. The total mass recovery rate was also compared. The ultimate goal of this research is to use the GTP to conduct a tracer test at the City of Ada Managed Aquifer Recharge Research Site that is located in the karstic Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer in south-central Oklahoma
Women in orthopaedic surgery: How medical schools and residencies can improve gender imbalance
No full textBackground: Studies about women in orthopaedics was once a rarely researched topic, though it has seen an increase in interest in the last five to 10 years; a trend that parallels with the changes in our culture as a country that is pivoting towards equality and the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Recent studies focused on the medical school experience and how early exposure to orthopaedic surgery through clinical rotations and outreach programs, as well as having access to a role model or mentor, could be the most critical reason women choose orthopaedics. In addition to early exposure, other studies found gender bias, work/life balance, workplace culture, and perceptions on physical strength as explanations for this same phenomenon. These studies spotlight the many factors that play into female students’ decisions. However, there is a gap in research on how medical schools, specifically those with osteopathic-based education, sway a student's decision on residencies.Objective: This study looks at why female medical students do not choose orthopaedics and specifically how osteopathic medical schools further impact their decision. The aim is to highlight the perceptions among female medical students of what makes a good orthopaedic surgeon and the demands of the residency, and if osteopathic medical schools are inadvertently encouraging women to go into traditionally female-heavy residencies by not providing adequate exposure and mentorship in orthopaedics. With this knowledge, the hope is that medical schools, in conjunction with residency programs, can improve the rate of females into orthopaedic surgery residencies.Methods: Qualitative research was conducted using transformative worldview methodology. 16 articles were collected and reviewed from PubMed, and the mission statements from 15 Osteopathic medical schools were analyzed using word count in Microsoft Word, as well as an online word cloud generator for word frequency. Data was requested from the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine on the number of female students who matched into primary care residencies compared to those that matched into surgical residencies.Results: Increasing the number of females in orthopedic surgery residencies will require efforts across all levels. All research analyzed points to the importance of early exposure by way of musculoskeletal curriculum, clinical rotations, and mentorship prior to a student’s third year of medical school. In addition, efforts must be made by residencies and graduate medical education departments to foster and promote female surgeons into positions of leadership. For residencies to see diversity in their programs, it requires initiative from leadership, faculty, and coordinators to promote its attainability. A concerted effort must be made to modernize what an orthopaedic surgeon looks like– for the health of the program and the health of its community.Regarding osteopathic medical schools, research shows that the mission of osteopathic medical education emphasizes primary care practice and, therefore, could dissuade a female student from choosing orthopaedic surgery, thus continuing to contribute to the shortage
Competition preferences in friends
No full textWomen are faced with a double bind: Like men, women must compete to get ahead, but people dislike competitive women. Moreover, because of pernicious and pervasive gender discrimination, women are urged to find support during this competition by leaning specifically on other women. However, ample research suggests that backlash towards competitive women can also come from other women. But who—if anyone—disfavors associating with competitive women? Three different theoretical approaches make different predictions: A gender role approach suggests both men and women should disfavor competitiveness in women, a behavioral ecology approach suggests only women should disfavor competitiveness in their same-sex allies, and a nuanced evolutionary approach that suggest women will disfavor competitiveness in their same-sex allies only when that competitiveness is targeted towards them and their friends. Here we test between the three accounts, using CloudResearch U.S. participants (N = 466). Men and women rated their ideal preference for competitiveness in their same-gender friends when that competitiveness was directed at six targets (oneself, other friends, their rival, friend’s rival, co-worker, and rival co-worker). We found that women prefer competitiveness in their friends just as much as men do, unless that competitiveness is targeted towards them and their friends. These findings may begin to explain the potential psychology underlying the stigma against competitive women and the motivators behind the double bind using an evolutionary perspective. These findings have real-world implications (e.g., navigating the double bind, gender inequality)