95038 research outputs found
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Optimization of a high-throughput fluorescent sensor for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
Get PDFPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are environmental contaminants that still lack accessible methods of detection. Due to their use in industrial production during the past couple decades, they have been released into waterways and continue to pose a threat to public health. As the current methods of PFAS sensing are time consuming, expensive, and low throughput, my project aims to address this discrepancy by optimizing a novel sensor for PFAS. Through template-directed synthesis that is used to self-assemble macrocyclic receptors, a high throughput sensing platform for PFAS was previously discovered. A series of monomer building block compounds with dithiol functional groups were synthesized and used to form a dynamic combinatorial library (DCL) combined with an environmentally sensitive dye. Through template-directed synthesis, the monomers self-assemble into receptors for the dye. When PFAS compounds are added, if they bind to the receptors the dye is displaced, and a change in fluorescence is observed via an indicator displacement assay. Principal component analysis (PCA) is then used to compare the various combinations of monomer DCLs for their ability to differentiate between PFAS samples. My research project focuses on further optimization of this novel PFAS sensing method by evaluating a series of additional building block combinations at new DCL concentrations to improve its sensitivity.Bachelor of Scienc
‘RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD’:THE INDIGENOUS INFLUENCER AND SELF-BRANDING IN DIGITAL SPACES
Get PDFThis thesis examines the methods and success of the personal branding of indigenous social media influencers in Latin America and globally. While research has been done on social media as a space for indigenous political and social activism, this paper explores the branding of indigenous creators as professional influencers, who have turned social media platforms, most notably TikTok, into careers. It also questions the extent to which these influencers incorporate their indigeneity into their content, and how the comment sections celebrate or judge them. The methods used include the analysis of content and audience engagement, ethnographic interviews, and a literature review of personal branding techniques, how creators become successful, and how indigenousness is defined. The results find that exotic foods are most likely to receive negative reactions from viewers, while a strong connection to nature is widely recognized as a positive, envious aspect of indigeneity. Indigenous influencers succeed in engaging audiences and establishing strong financial revenue streams and increasing awareness on identity issues, but the incorporation of these creators in the space can only do so much to combat racial discrimination, as the Internet often replicates the prejudices that exist offline. This project is a step forward in determining effective ways to decolonize social media and how indigeneity is perceived on social media in various contexts.Bachelor of Art
Is Fairtrade the Fair Way Forward?
Get PDFThis research investigated the effectiveness of Fairtrade in the Colombian coffee industry. By observing farmer motivations and attitudes in Colombia and beyond, I gauge the viability of Fairtrade as a trade approach. Furthermore, I ask the following question: do farmers rely on Fairtrade certifications to enhance their incomes, or do they find other approaches more effective? By looking at variables such as reliance on Fairtrade, the reach for alternatives, and producer and consumer understanding of Fairtrade, I sought to measure the scope of Fairtrade in smallholder lives. I did this by presenting insights from my online research and fieldwork in Colombia, then analyzing them through key theoretical frameworks and existing literature to substantiate my hypothesis. Based on the findings regarding barriers to smallholder participation, farmers’ reach for alternative trade models, and a lack of understanding of what Fairtrade accomplishes, I argue that Fairtrade is not effective in meeting all farmers’ goals, and that other strategies often prove more impactful in farmers’ lives.Bachelor of Art
Impact of an Intern-Supported Antiviral Stewardship Program for Cytomegalovirus Prophylaxis and Management in High-Risk Abdominal Solid Organ Transplant Recipients
Get PDFThis study investigates the impact of intern-supported pharmacist-driven monitoring on CMV outcomes in D+/R- abdominal SOT recipients. A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted in CMV D+/R- abdominal SOT recipients transplanted between 8/1/21 and 7/31/23 to compare recipients undergoing pharmacy intern review versus standard monitoring. A pharmacy student intern reviewed a list of recipients maintained in the electronic health record weekly to ensure proper CMV prophylaxis and management. Following institutional protocols, the intern identified and recommended interventions to the pharmacists for implementation. Primary outcomes included the incidence of CMV infection within nine months post-transplant and time to CMV eradication after infection. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of antiviral resistance, viral breakthrough, allograft loss, and recipient death. 69 D+/R- SOT recipients were included (36 control, 33 intervention). Baseline demographics were similar. There was a nonsignificant decrease in CMV infection within nine months post-transplant in the intervention group. However, mean time to CMV eradication after infection was significantly shorter in the intervention group (63 days vs 24 days, p=0.004). No differences in secondary outcomes were observed. CMV infection rates remained elevated in D+/R- SOT recipients after transplant despite frequent review of prophylaxis and laboratory monitoring, which is likely a result of seronegative status and global immunosuppression. However, eradication of CMV infection can be significantly impacted by close monitoring, such as that provided by a pharmacy student intern, to reduce time of active infection. This dramatic reduction in time to eradication has the potential to reduce the risk for negative allograft and recipient outcomes associated with CMV infection.Doctor of Pharmac
Systematic Review of Active Healing: Evaluating the Impact of Physical Activity on Quality of Life in Children with Leukemia
Get PDFBackground: The role of physical activity (PA) in enhancing quality of life (QOL) among pediatric cancer populations has received growing attention in recent years. However, the specific impact of PA interventions on the QOL of children with leukemia remains inconclusive. Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review is to thoroughly examine the literature to assess the effectiveness of physical activity on various aspects of QOL in children under 18 years old who have leukemia.
Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus, for studies between 2003 and 2024. Two reviewers independently performed data extraction and quality assessment. Finding from included studies were abstracted into a matrix and synthesized.
Results: Six studies were included in the final analysis. Findings indicate that physical activity improves QOL for this population during weeks 2 through 16 of leukemia treatment.
Implications: Nurses should educate parents and patients about the importance of physical activity (PA) in improving QOL during leukemia treatment. Further research is needed with more diverse populations that assess the effects of multiple types of physical activity over extended periods of time. Further research should evaluate both parents’ and children’s reports of QOL. Bachelor of Scienc
Medication Abortion Coverage in Major U.S. Newspapers, 2022–2023: A Multi-Method Analysis
Get PDFIntroduction Medication abortion is increasingly important to U.S. abortion-seekers in the post-Roe era, yet no research has specifically addressed how medication abortion is covered in U.S. news sources. To fill this gap, we examined how major U.S. newspapers covered medication abortion from 6 months before to 1 year after the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Methods We searched five leading U.S. newspapers for all articles mentioning “medication abortion” published between January 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023 (n = 1132 articles). We analyzed data three ways: descriptive analysis of the corpus; natural language processing (NLP), to identify themes of coverage; and ethnographic content analysis (ECA), to identify basic facts, personal stories, and speakers included. Results Coverage of medication abortion primarily focused on court cases challenging FDA approval of mifepristone. Politicians and lawyers were quoted more than healthcare providers. Less than half of articles included basic facts on medication abortion. Only one in five articles included a personal story of someone seeking abortion. Conclusions Newspapers cover medication abortion as a serious policy issue, yet often fail to convey basic facts and human implications of this critical issue. Policy ImplicationsGiven these limitations of newspaper coverage on the topic, policymakers should fund efforts to educate the public about medication abortion
Prioritizing long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy among key populations: Perceptions of persons living with HIV who inject drugs, ART clinic staff, and policymakers in Vietnam
Get PDFOBJECTIVES: We explored perceptions of long-acting injectable (LAI) patient prioritization and decision-making among people who inject drugs (PWID) with HIV, HIV clinic staff, and policymakers in Vietnam. METHODS: From February to November 2021, we conducted 38 interviews with 19 PWID, 14 HIV clinic staff, and 5 policymakers in Hanoi, Vietnam. Interviews were coded and analyzed using thematic analysis to assess themes across participants. RESULTS: PWID highlighted the importance of medical providers in treatment decisions, while clinic staff stressed adequate counseling and patient choice. Non-patient participants viewed adherence to Ministry of Health guidelines as essential, and many clinic staff saw PWID as ideal for LAI due to suboptimal adherence. Policymakers, however, preferred prioritizing LAI based on viral suppression and adherence rather than risk behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals conflicting stakeholder views on LAI prioritization, suggesting a need for a more nuanced implementation approach to balance efficiency and fairness in low-resource settings
Association of remittances with skilled delivery in Uganda, 2019/2020
Get PDFThere are significant disparities in maternal and child mortality ratios between high-income and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite large decreases in maternal and child mortality in recent decades, with programs such as the Safe Motherhood Initiative, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Millennium Development Goals in LMICs, these differences remain large. The objective of this study is to examine the association between the receipt of remittances received by households and skilled delivery among women reporting a recent birth. This study uses data from the household, woman, and community modules of the Uganda National Panel Survey (UNPS) from 2019/2020 to examine skilled delivery and skilled delivery with the use of safe birthing kits. Women of reproductive age with a birth within the last three years of data collection were included in the analysis. A cross-sectional analysis of 2019/2020 UNPS data is analyzed using logistic regression and a dose-response analysis plotting the estimated probabilities of skilled delivery and skilled delivery with use of safe birthing kits against increasing amounts of remittances. While no statistically significant associations were found between remittances and skilled delivery in the logistic model, the dose-response model did find such a relationship. Recommendations for future research in this topic area include improving questionnaire design to collect better data on remittances, utilizing longitudinal data with larger sample sizes, and examining mechanisms of money transfer
[ORS-TAT] Drug Supply and Overdose: Observations from a Shifting Landscape
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Correction: Social, lifestyle, and health status characteristics as a proxy for occupational burnout identification: a network approach analysis
Get PDFCorrection to "Social, lifestyle, and health status characteristics as a proxy for occupational burnout identification: a network approach analysis