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A MULTICOMPONENT STRATEGY TO PROMOTE HEALTH EQUITY IN OLDER ADULTS BY REINFORCING THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT IN GRANVILLE AND VANCE COUNTIES
Get PDFThe neighborhood and built environment in Granville and Vance Counties significantly shape the health of aging adults, especially in rural communities facing food insecurity, inadequate infrastructure, and housing instability. Through four Deliverable 1 analyses, Policy, Leadership, Engagement, and Quality, key barriers were identified, including exclusionary zoning ordinances, digital inequities, limited access to public health data, and insufficient community-led decision-making. These intersecting factors contribute to disproportionately high rates of chronic disease and social isolation among older adults in these counties. Deliverable 2 expanded on these findings by proposing governance strategies focused on accountability, cross-sector collaboration, and sustainability. Recommendations included shared measurement systems, inclusive coalition structures, and conflict resolution frameworks. Together, the deliverables emphasize the urgent need for equity-focused, community-driven solutions to improve access to affordable housing, broadband, and environments that support aging. This work offers a roadmap for advancing structural change to ensure that all residents can age with dignity in healthy, connected communities.Master of Public Healt
Commercialization of Analytical Technologies: Summary of a Symposium at SciX LI, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, October 2024
Get PDFA symposium at SciX LI sought to demystify commercialization of academically developed technologies, focused on analytical and spectroscopic measurements. Speakers ranged from those with successful commercial products to those in the early stages of product development. Speakers sought to explain the challenges, motivations, excitement, and frustrations of moving beyond technical papers and patents to making saleable products and successful enterprises. Their insights are summarized
Data for "Quantification of the relative contribution of phase aberration and reverberation in transcranial ultrasound imaging: an experimentally calibrated fullwave study in 2-D and 3-D" Part 8
No full textData for "Quantification of the relative contribution of phase aberration and reverberation in transcranial ultrasound imaging: an experimentally calibrated fullwave study in 2-D and 3-D
Early responses to Cd stress by tolerant and susceptible rice cultivars
Get PDFCadmium (Cd) pollution poses a rapidly escalating danger to the environment. The comprehensive understanding of variability in intraspecific tolerance among various indica cultivars exposed to Cd stress is obscure. This recent study intended to evaluate the response of 25 µM and 50 µM CdCl2 at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h in a high Cd accumulating rice genotype (IR64) and a low Cd accumulating rice genotype (Dudheswar), under hydroponic conditions. Under Cd stress, Dudheswar exhibited higher ROS detoxification by an upregulated ROS-scavenging antioxidant system. An array of osmoregulants and Cd chelating compounds was accumulated in high amounts, providing tolerance towards Cd stress. Contradictorily, ROS generation and ROS-induced damage indices were highly escalated in IR64. Genes like OsHMA3, OsPCS1 were upregulated by 10–20 fold in Dudheswar compared to IR64, which might facilitate Cd sequestration and detoxification. OsNRAMP genes were upregulated by 6–8 fold in IR64, suggesting higher xylem and phloem loading of Cd. The partial coding sequences and 3′ UTR sequences of OsNRAMP1 and OsNRAMP5 were compared, revealing no differences. Similarly, no difference was observed in the sequences of the OsNRAMP5 promoter. Our results suggest that differential expression of OsNRAMPs rather than any sequence difference observed in the analyzed regions (partial coding sequences, 3′ UTRs, or OsNRAMP5 promoter) might be responsible for conferring genotypic variability in responses towards Cd exposure, affecting Cd accumulation, activation of defense pathways and maintenance of metabolic homeostasis. Our study, for the first time, explicitly reveals the early and divergent responses activated by tolerant and susceptible rice seedlings when subjected to Cd stress that would facilitate advanced understanding of the variation in stress-coping mechanisms between cultivars
Behavior change techniques in physical activity and dietary interventions among adolescent and young adult cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Get PDFPurpose This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize the evidence from physical activity (PA) and dietary behavior change interventions designed specifically for adolescent and young adult (AYAs) cancer survivors. We identified study characteristics and behavior change techniques (BCTs), examined intervention effectiveness, and explored study characteristics and BCTs associated with effectiveness. Methods A comprehensive search of multiple databases was conducted (March 2024) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted among post-treatment cancer survivors diagnosed during adolescence or young adulthood (15–39 years), comparing PA or dietary outcomes. Two reviewers screened all studies, extracted data, and characterized interventions by BCTs. Analyses weighted effect sizes (Hedges g) by their inverse variance and combine them using multilevel random effects meta-analytic procedures. Random effects univariate regressions examined the association between study characteristics, BCTs, and effectiveness. Results Fourteen RCTs (n = 1169) were included for review. All studies had multiple outcomes of interest, including PA; two included dietary components. There was a significant overall intervention effect on PA (0.378, 95% CI, 0.183–0.573; p = 0.002). Significant moderators were the type of PA outcome assessed, the use of two behavioral theories, and biofeedback. Other BCTs showed notable differences in effect size, though not significant. Discussion Interventions improved PA outcomes in AYA cancer survivors. Most studies were pilot or feasibility trials, lasting three months. Future research should prospectively identify BCTs and examine their effects post-intervention. Interventions targeting both PA and dietary behaviors are lacking. Implications for Cancer Survivors There is a need for behavioral interventions designed specifically to meet the unique needs of AYA cancer survivors and future studies should include PA and dietary components, larger and more diverse samples, and longer follow-up periods. Registration: PROSPERO (reference: CRD42022198889)
The effects of potassium cyanide on tardigrade Paramacrobiotus experimentalis
Get PDFPotassium cyanide (KCN) is a highly lethal poison with cyanide anions having an inhibitory effect on complex IV of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, leading to stoppage in electron transport and eventually cessation of aerobic respiration within the cell. Tardigrades are a group of small invertebrates, most well known for their exceptional resistance to environmental stressors, including exposure to aqueous solution of KCN. In this study, specimens of the tardigrade Paramacrobiotus experimentalis were subjected to KCN exposures of various concentrations and durations, as well as repeated exposures. The resulting reactions have been observed, both by observing its movements and through ultrastructure analysis using transmission electron microscope (TEM). Obtained results confirm high tolerance of tardigrades to KCN. After an initial period of debilitation, tardigrades gradually return to full activity. Statistically significant relationships between time needed for recovery and KCN concentration, duration of exposure and number of consecutive exposure episodes have been found. However, no significant relationship between KCN exposure and long-term survival has been found. Analysis using TEM has found changes in midgut and storage cells of exposed animals, including mitochondrial damage and evidence of autophagy. Finally, a new protocol for tardigrade exposure to KCN has been devised
Changes in the utilization of prenatal and delivery services in the United States prior to, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic
Get PDFBackground Starting in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic strained the healthcare system in the United States, directly and indirectly changing the provision of many types of care, including maternity care. This paper describes longer-term changes in maternal health services utilization in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Using United States monthly aggregated birth record data from 2016 to 2023, we examined changes in the average number of prenatal visits (overall and by delivery pay type) and total births (overall, by pay type, and by birthplace) before, during, and after the pandemic. We estimated monthly time series models replicating pre-pandemic patterns from January 2016 to February 2020. We then extended those models to predict monthly levels of each outcome had COVID-19 not occurred from March 2020 through December 2023. We compared observed and predicted levels from March 2020 onward, assessing differences associated with COVID-19. Results There were persistent and significantly lower-than-expected levels of average number of prenatal care visit across all COVID-19 months. There was also a temporary significant drop in total births during 2020 that recovered to expected levels in 2021, except for an increase in the total self-pay births in 2023. Patterns by pay type were similar to the overall patterns observed. Total non-hospital births were significantly higher than expected for the entirety of the pandemic, with large increases in intentional home births. Conclusion Most initial changes to maternity care persisted throughout and continued after the pandemic, resulting in lower levels of prenatal care visits and higher numbers of home births. These findings show sustained changes to maternity care provision and access prompted by COVID-19, which highlight how vulnerable maternity services are to healthcare disruptions and suggest prolonged effects on equitable access to safe care
A network analysis of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae among healthcare facilities
Get PDFWith limited treatments for carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKp), curtailing transmission is critical. We applied a network analysis using epidemiological admission data and bacterial genetics to characterize CRKp spread among patients in 16 acute care hospitals linked to 217 other healthcare facilities in the United States. Patients with diagnosed CRKp infection were selected from the Consortium on Resistance Against Carbapenems in Klebsiella and other Enterobacteriaceae (CRACKLE-1), a prospective, observational study conducted from 12/2011 to 6/2016. A network analysis was performed using epidemiological admission data and bacterial genetics to characterize putative CRKp transmission among patients across various healthcare facilities and the community. Overall, 347/526 patients (66%) had a putative transmission link to at least one other patient within the network. Most transmission chains were small (i.e., between 2 patients); however, the largest included 172 patients diagnosed over 1575 days. One-third of patients shared a genetically similar CRKp isolate with another patient but had no observed epidemiological linkages at any healthcare location. Patients with CRKp are part of extensive regional networks involving a large number of non-hospital healthcare settings such as skilled nursing facilities. Thus, controlling spread necessitates integrated surveillance and control initiatives at regional and national levels in addition to institution-specific approaches
Exploring Perceived Risks and Benefits of Emerging Technologies: A Mixed Methods Approach to Generative Artificial Intelligence Risks, Benefits, and Influences on Public Engagement
Get PDFAs the number of people using generative artificial intelligence (genAI) grows globally, policymakers and organizations are looking for ways to articulate principals that allow for maximizing its benefits and minimizing its risks. Mass media coverage can play an integral role in providing information and shaping how the public understanding such issues. Effective risk communication around genAI problems require a deep understanding of existing discourse on the emerging technology and the ability of society to approach genAI risk management using a collective approach. This dissertation aims to understand both the online landscape of genAI risks and benefits and examine the impact of perceived risks and benefits on people’s engagement with the issue. The first aim explores the themes and frames used in online videos. A thematic and content analysis of YouTube and TikTok videos (N = 162) found four main themes: promise versus peril, experiences of engagement, inevitability and urgency, and approaches to governing risk. Analysis of the same video dataset found frames of genAI risks included mostly societal impacts, while frames of genAI benefits presented personal impacts. Integrated qualitative and quantitative findings suggest corporate ties to the accounts sharing genAI videos and the information sources cited within them. The second aim seeks to advance a typography of AI publics based on perceived risks and benefits and understand its influence on people’s willingness to engage with genAI issues using the Situational Theory of Problem Solving (STOPS) framework. A survey of U.S. adults (N = 419) was conducted. Findings suggest individuals identified as having high perceptions of genAI benefits are more likely to be engaged in genAI issues through communicative actions such as information seeking or information forwarding. The STOPS predictor of problem recognition is also found not have a significant relationship with people’s willingness to engage in genAI issues. The dissertation applies existing theories of framing, Prospect Theory, and STOPS to generative AI and risk communication. Practical implications for public relations, risk management, and policymaking are also discussed. Limitations and directions for future research are addressed as well.Doctor of Philosoph
Should I Stay or Should I Go: Assessing the Effects of Remote Work on Voluntary Employer Exit
Get PDFRemote work has become a topic of considerable interest to academic and non-academic audiences alike in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet while existing research has documented its myriad consequences for workers and firms, less attention has been paid to remote work’s impact on processes that link workers to firms, such as job mobility. This study uses SIPP data to examine the relationship between work modality and voluntary job exit. My results support three hypotheses: (1) any amount of remote work is associated with lower odds of voluntary exit than is the case for workers who work fully in-person, (2) hybrid arrangements are associated with lower rates of exit than fully remote arrangements, and (3) the relationship between modality and exit is moderated by education. These findings offer insights into the mechanisms that may shape the post-pandemic labor market, especially as employers weigh “return-to-office” plans against evolving worker preferences.Master of Art