35989 research outputs found
Sort by
Applying Machine Learning Technique to Improve Cost Estimating Process for Tennessee’s Transportation Projects
No full textAccording to the 2021 America’s Infrastructure Report Card by the American Society of Civil Engineers, 43% of U.S. roadways are in poor or mediocre condition, costing drivers over $1,000 per year in wasted time and fuel. A key challenge is the inaccurate estimation of road repair and maintenance costs, which hinders efficient fund allocation. While extensive research exists on cost prediction for new construction, infrastructure improvement projects, such as bridge repairs and road rehabilitations, receive less attention despite their unique complexities. This research addresses that challenge by developing a Cost Prediction Tool using Excel. The tool is specifically designed to assist Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) engineers in overcoming difficulties with cost estimation during the planning phase. An in-depth analysis was done on 11 years of road and bridge project data across different regions of Tennessee, and various factors like project length, route, work type, and location were considered for developing the tool. Machine learning models were developed to predict costs at the state, regional, and county levels for projects such as bridge repairs, safety improvements, and legislative programs. These models were validated with new data, and the validation results demonstrated strong performance in early project phases. A spreadsheet-based tool was then created to make cost estimation quick and easy. This tool will be particularly valuable in emergencies, such as natural disasters like Hurricane Helena, by helping TDOT to fast-track the approval and funding for urgent repairs, ensuring a faster response and resource allocation
Revisionist Khrushchev and Utopian Mao: A Comparison of Soviet Union and Chinese Agricultural Policies During the Sino-Soviet Split
No full textThe examination of agricultural history provides historians with new methods to perceive the past. Most academic discourse centered around the 1956-66 Sino-Soviet split describes how ideological differences broke down relations between both countries but does not focus on the specific policies that influenced this break. Soviet and Chinese agricultural policies sparked tension between Nikita Khrushchev and Mao Zedong before and after this seismic rift. Both leaders’ interpretations of Marxist-Leninist thought influenced farming methods adopted in their respective states. The Soviet Union (USSR) embraced reform upon Stalin’s death while the People’s Republic of China (PRC) embraced fearful and repressive tactics in their agricultural methods. The political landscape inside each nation molded both Khrushchev and Mao’s perspective on agricultural development. This thesis analyzes the factors that shaped each leader’s ideological beliefs on agricultural production before the Sino-Soviet split and explores specific policies that strained relations between them. Primary and secondary sources show how Khrushchev’s emphasis on mechanization and large-scale collective farms contrasted with Mao’s advocacy for decentralized communes and mass mobilization. The Soviet leader’s ideological stance against Stalinism and adoration for American farming practices infuriated Mao in the mid-twentieth century. This study also sheds light on subsequent famine management between both nations through an examination of each nation’s agricultural success upon the Sino-Soviet split. Khrushchev’s diplomatic relationship with the West helped the USSR experience lower famine levels in comparison with the PRC. Grain imports alongside the continuation of foreign mechanized practices in the Soviet leader’s country lessened famine while Mao blamed others for his mistakes and pushed harmful campaigns that forced the rural Chinese population into starvation. This comparative analysis offers insight into the broader implications behind agricultural policy implementation in socialist states
Mental Health of Students and the Community in Semi-Urban Nawalgarh
No full textDestination Nawalgarh is a subgroup of new global engagement activity at ETSU, the Global Handshakes initiative, promoting cultural immersion and exchange around the world. Outreach occurred in Nawalgarh, a semi-urban area in the State of Rajasthan within Northwest India. ETSU students were divided into groups based on personal interest; our group focused on the mental health/well-being of students and semi-urban Nawalgarh. We held insightful discussions with staff, students, educators, and community members to better understand the current state of mental health. Asking specific questions about the culture surrounding mental health, and how locals might approach suggestions regarding it. We learned while educational well-being was promoted in students, mental health was a cultural taboo for all age groups.Our aim was to open conversations about mental health/well-being, without imposing on existing cultural norms. Our proposed solution, Inner-Harmony Hub (IHH), would be a social enterprise geared towards promoting mental health conversations by hosting trained mental health professionals and community members. This hub would be a viable workspace for trained community members to go into homes, opening conversations with mothers interested in pursuing support. These frequent, adaptable visits would allow for slow progression of confidence and support to help expand trust and open communication to entire families. Finally, an informed professional would reside in the school’s grievance cell to be available to students wanting a safe space for mental health topics in a judgement-free, anonymous way. Ideally, these aspects would work together to promote safe and open conversation surrounding mental health throughout Nawalgarh
Evaluating the Relationship of Appalachian Livestock Density and Antimicrobial Resistance in Humans
No full textIntroduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an emerging public health crisis that currently causes 2.8 million resistant infections and 46,700 deaths per year in the United States. Antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, and ceftriaxone are commonly used in livestock and humans for infections Consequently, AMR is present for humans and animals with these medications. However, livestock density and the presence of antibiotic-resistant strains remain understudied. This cross-sectional study evaluates the relationship between livestock density and AMR rates in humans within Appalachian states. Methods: This study utilized data from the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS), FDA Veterinarian Antibiotic Drug Purchase Reports, and USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS). Dependent variables included thirteen state-level AMR rates for E.coli and Salmonella, and state-level percentage of resistant isolates of each infection present for ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, and ceftriaxone were also obtained through NARMS. The predictor variable, livestock density, was defined as the number of cattle, poultry, swine, and goats per state divided by land area of each state, which was collected through NASS. Spearman correlations were utilized to examine the relationships between AMR resistance rates in humans and livestock population densities of the selected states. Conclusion: States with a higher swine density showed a moderate to strong correlation (0.7) to E. coli resistant to ceftriaxone and a moderate correlation to Salmonella resistant to ciprofloxacin (0.53). Cattle dense states had a moderate correlation to Salmonella resistant to ceftriaxone (0.41). Poultry-dense states showed a weak correlation (0.25) to ceftriaxone resistant to E. coli, which may indicate a positive impact from ceftriaxone being recommended for limited use. States with high goat-densities showed negative correlations to all resistant strains. This study highlights the importance of additional research specifically analyzing antibiotic use in livestock after implemented regulations within human and veterinary medicine would add further clarification
Northeast Tennessee Community Pharmacists\u27 Perspectives on Opioid Use Disorder
No full textCommunity pharmacists are significantly involved in the addiction recovery landscape in multiple ways, including through dispensing prescribed medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). Pharmacy-based factors that may complicate OUD treatment outcomes include medication accessibility issues and real or perceived stigmatizing experiences within the pharmacy environment. As a recurrent topic of research in the Northeast Tennessee region for more than a decade, this study seeks to develop an updated understanding of local community pharmacists’ attitudes and beliefs about individuals living with substance use disorders, OUD treatment medications, and pharmacy-based strategies for OUD management and harm reduction. Anonymous paper surveys will be distributed to a random selection of 50 community pharmacies in Carter, Sullivan, and Washington Counties in Tennessee. Up to four actively licensed community pharmacists who dispense medications for OUD treatment will be invited to complete the survey at each site. Survey items will include Likert-type, categorical, and open-ended questions about the survey themes and participants’ demographics and professional backgrounds. Descriptive analysis of the collected quantitative data will be conducted in SPSS Version 29. Open-ended responses will undergo thematic analysis by the study team. The results of this study are expected to inform initiatives in pharmacy education, professional development, and/or health care policy to improve pharmacy-based OUD treatment access and recovery support in a region heavily impacted by the opioid epidemic
Applied Behavior Analysis: Perceptions About the Field Across Sectors
No full textGiven the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), clinicians and researchers must provide related populations with an informed, unbiased understanding of available interventions. Previous research established that applied behavior analysis (ABA) is an effective intervention for individuals with ASD and that lacking ABA training predicts negative attitudes toward ABA. The current study examines how perceptions of ABA vary across sectors of ABA professionals, psychologists, and laypeople. Hypotheses proposed include 1) ABA professionals will have a higher mean attitude score than psychology professionals and laypeople; 2) Psychology professionals will have a lower mean attitude score than ABA professionals and laypeople. Participants completed a modified version of the Attitudes of Behavior Modification scale (Allen & Bowles, 2014) and a demographic questionnaire via REDCap. A filtered dataset of 26 participants was analyzed to examine attitudes towards ABA. A One-Way ANOVA was performed to examine differences in mean attitude scores towards ABA between sectors of relationship with ABA. The results indicated scores were significantly different between professional sectors, F(2, 24) = 3.559, p =.046. A Tukey post-hoc analysis indicated a significant difference between the mean attitude of the ABA professionals group (M = 90.43, SD = 4.83) and the laypeople group (M =80.83, SD = 7.86), (p=.042). However, no significant differences were found between the psychology professionals group (M =82.17, SD = 10.07) and the laypeople group (M =80.83, SD = 7.86), (p=.937), as well as the ABA professionals group (M = 90.43, SD = 4.83) and the psychology professionals group (M =82.17, SD = 10.07), (p=.159). These findings suggest that attitudes towards ABA are related to professional experience with ABA. Implications of these results provide further support that an individual’s exposure to training in ABA relates to their perception of ABA. Future studies should examine attitudes towards ABA with diverse, larger samples
Effects of a Forever Chemical on Arterial Blood Pressure and End-Organ Damage in Rats
No full textPer- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent organic pollutants linked to hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in humans; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly defined. This study’s purpose was to assess the effects of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a legacy PFAS, on arterial blood pressure (BP) and end-organ damage in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. We hypothesized that administration of PFOA for 4 weeks causes hypertension and kidney damage in SD rats. Rats (10-13-week-old, n=12) were instrumented with a radiotelemeter (DSI) to measure BP and heart rate (HR). One week later, baseline BP (500 Hz, 24 hrs/day for two days) and proteinuria were assessed. One group of rats was administered PFOA via drinking water (10mg/kg/day, n=8) while another group was maintained on regular tap water (vehicle, n=4) for 28 days. BP was measured weekly, proteinuria at 2 and 4 weeks, and tissues were harvested at the end of the experiment. A 2-way repeated measures ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc test was used to assess differences between groups over time. An unpaired T-test was used to assess differences in organ weights between groups. All data are mean ± SE, and P\u3c0.05 was considered statistically significant. The percent increase in body weight (BW) was significantly attenuated in rats administered PFOA (9±2%) vs. vehicle (19±2%). Despite the lower BW in the PFOA group, kidney and liver weights were 34% and 89% greater (P\u3c0.05) as compared to the vehicle group. There were no significant differences in the percent change in BP over time between groups. In contrast, the percent change in HR significantly differed between PFOA (3±1%) and vehicle (-8±1%) groups. A moderately high dose of PFOA for 4 weeks in SD rats leads to significant increases in kidney and liver weight without altering arterial BP. The extent of PFOA-induced kidney and liver injury is being assessed
American Fears: H.P. Lovecraft and The Paranoid Style
No full textWhy is H.P. Lovecraft still relevant? That is one of the questions put forward by this thesis. Lovecraft is known for his creation of Lovecraftian horror, also known as cosmic horror. However, his bigoted view on race and class muddies this legacy. What this thesis seeks to explore is how Lovecraft’s work demonstrates the fears and anxieties central to the America psyche. The paranoid style can be found in American discourse throughout history but it can also be found in the works of Lovecraft himself. Lovecraft was a prejudiced and paranoid man, and his prejudices and paranoia are a major part of his works. The fear that Lovecraft felt and wrote, is the same fear that continues to guide and shape America itself. This work explores four of Lovecraft’s work “The Call of Cthulhu,” “The Dunwich Horror,” “The Shadow Over Innsmouth;” as well as a lesser-known poem by Lovecraft “Providence 2000 A.D.
A Rise in Intraocular Pressure after a Successful Canaloplasty and Goniotomy
No full textGlaucoma is a group of eye disorders causing progressive optic neuropathy, leading to visual field loss and potential blindness. Surgical options include trabeculectomy, tube shunts, laser trabeculoplasty, and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS.) This case involves a 79-year-old male with open-angle glaucoma who underwent canaloplasty (180°) and goniotomy (270°) on his left eye. The 79-year-old male, with a history of glaucoma, presented to the veterans\u27 affairs (VA) hospital with increased intraocular pressure (IOP) and vision loss. Despite using Latanoprost and Brinzolamide-Brimonidine eye drops, IOP control was inadequate. Pre-operative IOP was 18 mmHg in the left eye. Subsequent visits showed elevated pressure in the left eye and continued visual field loss. He underwent surgery, and a week later had his lowest IOP in 3 years off all IOP drops, 13 mmHg. One month after surgery his IOP was 10 mmHg off all drops. However, IOP later reverted to pre-operative levels (12–22 mmHg) and he resumed his prior eye drop regimen. More aggressive treatment did not resolve the elevated IOP as the patient was unable to tolerate the addition of a IOP-lowering topical drop, the rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, netarsudil. Risk factors for failure include elevated pre-operative pressure, previous visual field loss, and prior use of aqueous suppressants containing benzalkonium chloride (BAK). Given a history of intolerance to multiple topical drops, future options for increasing medical therapy are limited for this patient and other surgical options should be considered if his glaucoma continues to worsen. Although initial post-operative IOPs may decrease following canaloplasty and goniotomy, long-term monitoring and follow-up may be required in patients with risk factors of failure, such as in this patient, to ensure therapeutic IOPs are achieved
Exploring the Use of Genelyn Cadavers for Advancing Medical Education of Central Line Placement
No full textBackground: Annually, over five million central venous catheters are placed in intensive care units across the United States. Relying solely on anatomical landmarks raises the risk of complications including malposition, pneumothorax, hemothorax, embolism, thrombosis, bleeding, and infection. Rates of these complications vary, ranging from 4% to 45%. These statistics highlight the necessity of effective training to enhance patient outcomes. Previous literature has explored the effectiveness of different types of soft-embalmed cadavers for training in ultrasound-guided procedures. This study compares the use of Genelyn embalmed cadavers versus silicone models for ultrasound-guided central line placement among medical students. Methods: Seventeen students from Quillen College of Medicine participated. The study began with a lecture portion on anatomy and techniques for ultrasound-guided central line placement. Participants were randomly assigned to start at one of three stations: internal jugular vein (IJV) central line placement on silicone model, IJV placement on Genelyn cadaver, and femoral vein placement on Genelyn cadaver. Each station was equipped with an ultrasound and a central venous catheter kit. Students rotated at each station and were then asked to evaluate their experiences using a Likert Scale Survey. Results: The findings revealed a statistically significant increase in the perceived straightforwardness of procedures performed on Genelyn cadavers compared to silicone models (P=.0089). However, no significant differences were noted in time efficiency (P =.173) and reliability (P=.055). The null hypothesis, asserting no significant difference between the two modalities, was rejected (P=.0027). Conclusions: Our study revealed that Genelyn cadavers showed a statistically significant advantage in perceived straightforwardness for teaching IJV central line placement, while maintaining similar levels of time efficiency and reliability compared to silicone models. These findings suggest that Genelyn cadavers may serve as superior teaching tools for ultrasound-guided procedures, warranting further investigation into their application across other procedures to enhance learner competence