1545 research outputs found
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Evaluating the Potential of Differentiating Somatic Origin of Hair Using Microscopy and Amino Acid Analysis
No full textIn crime scene investigations, human hairs are some of the most common pieces of trace evidence encountered. When hairs are analyzed, somatic origin analysis is often overlooked, thereby bypassing crucial contextual information. Pubic hairs may be probative evidence in a sexual assault while limb hairs may be important in a stabbing. Current somatic origin analysis is dependent on microscopic examination, particularly rooted in characteristics typically perceived as indicative of a certain body location. However, there are complications with overlapping characteristics or lack of typical characteristics in transitional areas of the body. Thus, somatic origin analysis should not rely solely on microscopy, and there are currently no DNA procedures that are helpful. Proteins, on the other hand, are much more robust and provide a possible solution to somatic origin determination. Non-synonymous amino acid changes in the protein sequence cause single nucleotide polymorphism profiles that can differentiate individuals. These changes can be exploited as additional approaches to hair analysis. Proteomic techniques have been heavily researched for the use of genetically variant peptides (GVPs) as a differentiating factor between individuals. Amino acid studies can build upon the approach used by proteomic studies. Recent studies have demonstrated the use of amino acid quantities in differentiating between individuals based on general class characteristics such as age group, geographical origin, and sex. Macri et al. successfully showed that different amino acid ratios of two individuals with morphologically similar hairs were able to differentiate between them. A study conducted by Yaroshuk demonstrated the possibility of amino acid ratios being used as an exculpatory method. Expanding on concepts from these studies, this thesis evaluated the potential of using amino acid analysis in conjunction with microscopy to differentiate between hairs of different somatic origins. This study included 97 samples from 9 somatic origins collected from 17 consenting participants. Methodology of hair analysis combined microscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to obtain amino acid quantities.
Microscopic analysis revealed that the characteristics we rely on for somatic origin identification are not as reliable as previously thought. Of the approximate 450 pubic hairs examined, only 22 buckles were observed (~4.5%) with additional buckles observed in beard, chest, and scalp hair samples. These results indicate that buckling is not only observed at a much lower frequency than previously thought, but it is not exclusive to pubic hairs. Morphometric data analysis also supports the fact that no single characteristic is sufficient for somatic origin identification; however, the additive effects of various characteristics may increase discrimination for making a somatic origin determination.
Amino acid ratios were calculated for each somatic origin and data analysis was conducted to identify any unique significant differences in amino acid ratios that can be used to differentiate among somatic origin of hairs. Promising amino acids ratios were identified; however, further research is encouraged to evaluate their potential for application in differentiating somatic origin of hairs
Exploring Tensions in Innovation Processes (TIPs) for Telehealth Implementation in Health Systems
No full textAs a disruptive innovation, telehealth creates a new hybrid model of care that delivers significant value to stakeholders. However, healthcare innovation implementation failure ranges from 30% to 90%. Extensive research has been conducted on the barriers to widespread telehealth implementation but has yet to completely understand its failure. COVID-19 accelerated telehealth use by relaxing regulations to support continuity of care, but its use remained widely variable across specialties. Therefore, the literature calls for an understanding of the complex processes and social challenges underlying telehealth as an innovation in the health system setting. Tensions in innovation processes supply a foundation to explore the dynamic relationship between navigating social conflicts and the implementation process. This study explored the tensions and management strategies for successful telehealth implementation in health systems. A qualitative social phenomenological study was conducted using semistructured interviews with administrative, medical, and technological healthcare leaders from three health systems. The approach to data analysis followed a hybrid inductive and deductive thematic analysis. The findings of this study highlight tensions between human and technological connections within trust dynamics; geographic, competitive, and legal and regulatory influences; and financial reimbursement and innovation investment drivers. It presents management strategies with purposeful, collaborative, and adaptive leadership. Furthermore, it presents a novel conceptual framework that integrates tensions and management strategies within the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Overall, this research contributes to the literature by providing actionable insights for health systems and leaders, policymakers, professional organizations, and researchers to effectively navigate telehealth implementation
Utilization of Stress Management Strategies by Collegiates for Stress Reduction
No full textThis thesis will investigate if collegiates use stress management strategies during a stressful event and whether they find these strategies useful and effective. This thesis will use the Homes Rahe Life Stress Inventory to measure perceived stress and control of participants (Holmes-rahe stress inventory, 2022). This thesis makes use of a Qualtrics questionnaire that asks participants what stress management strategies they use, when they use them, and if they find them effective in reducing stress. This survey was sent out to students through their university email. After the participants’ answers were collected, they were input into SPSS. Then a statistical analysis was completed to see if there is any significant data, correlation, or association between it. It was hypothesized that those who score high on the Homes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory do not use stress managements strategies. It was also hypothesized that those who score low on the Homes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory use stress management strategies and find them effective in reducing stress
Green Haven
No full textCreated 2024
This work of art is acrylic on burlap with a repurposed frame with paper mache, gold acrylic and spray paint.https://digitalcommons.newhaven.edu/digital-exhibits/1015/thumbnail.jp
Incarcerated Thoughts
No full textCreated 2024
This work of art is acrylic on burlap.https://digitalcommons.newhaven.edu/digital-exhibits/1027/thumbnail.jp
Health-Related Social Needs and Demographic Correlates Among Veterans Screened for Social Determinants of Health
No full textAdverse social determinants of health (SDOH) can contribute to poor health outcomes, highlighting the importance of understanding veterans\u27 unmet social needs. The purpose of this study was to conduct a quantitative analysis of health-related social needs (HRSNs) among veterans screened for SDOH to better understand the unique needs of this population. Minimal information on veterans\u27 self-reported social needs is available in the current literature, and little is known about whether veterans want to receive help for their social needs. Therefore, this study aimed to close the knowledge gap by analyzing the self-reported HRSNs among veterans screened for nine SDOH domains, with the added novelty of assessing whether they would like assistance for their identified needs.
Data were collected from veterans who completed the Clinical Assessment of Social and Health Equity Worksheet (CASHEW). The study included a convenience sample of veterans presenting for primary care at the Toledo VA Clinic in Toledo, Ohio, from February 27, 2023, to September 30, 2023. Primary outcomes included the prevalence of social needs related to housing, food, utilities, transportation, legal, social isolation, employment, education, and technology and subcategories based on the level of need. The CASHEW screener response options were also analyzed to determine which SDOH domains veterans selected wanting or declining assistance for their unmet social needs. Additional statistical methods were used to analyze the data through multiple logistic regressions to determine how socio-demographic variables were associated with indicating any social needs.
Over one in four veterans (28.2%) screened indicated a need on the CASHEW screener, with 48.8% of those veterans indicating one need, 21.5% indicating two needs, and 29.7% indicating three or more needs. The most reported needs were social isolation or loneliness, education, and utilities. Among the nine SDOH domains, the most prevalent reported need where veterans declined assistance was social isolation or loneliness. Education was the most reported need where veterans wanted to discuss available assistance. Based on the findings from the multivariate logistic regression analyses, Hispanic or Latino veterans and divorced veterans were associated with increased odds of indicating any needs, while the odds of indicating any needs decreased for every one-year increase in age. Lastly, socio-demographic characteristics were associated with housing, food, utilities, legal, social isolation or loneliness, employment, and education needs. However, there were no statistically significant socio-demographic predictors for indicating transportation or technology needs on the CASHEW screener.
The findings indicate the necessity to utilize self-reported patient-level data to identify veterans with unmet needs and tailor interventions to improve health outcomes, as certain sociodemographics are associated with increased odds of indicating social needs
A Digital Rebirth: Overhauling The Charger Bulletin\u27s Online Presence
No full textWithin the college setting, student-run news organizations are the mouthpiece delivering information to their community, and also a lens into the flow of information throughout it. The student news community serves as a bridge, existing somewhere between students and staff of the university to operate as an entity that showcases how information is received both formally and as a student. The delivery of this content heavily influences its consumption, and as a result, it is essential to ensure optimal upkeep of all platforms of journalistic media being managed within a news organization. At the University of New Haven, The Charger Bulletin has been the student-run news source since 1928, coming up on nearly a century of news production. The Bulletin’s online website, providing archives of published media at readers’ fingertips, was established in 2008, and its broadcast, Charger Bulletin News, first took to air in 2017. During the 2021-2022 academic year, our then-editor-in-chief redesigned the newspaper which the Bulletin prints weekly. With that in mind, there is no more optimal time to begin a redesign of the organization’s other platforms. In order to keep up with the pace of online media, it has now become a necessity to reimagine the online presence of the primary news organization for this campus. This dissertation will work to reupholster the Charger Bulletin\u27s online presence, in order to gain more interactivity and increase online traffic, seeking to bring the Bulletin\u27s online venues on par with the print version. This is being done with an understanding that technology will dictate the future of news consumption. The aim is also to create more diverse avenues of multimedia content. In order for this to be achieved, a set of actions will be taken to optimize the Bulletin’s flow of content beyond the pages of its weekly publication. There are two primary avenues of this project. The first consists of a massive redesign of chargerbulletin.com, meaning that it takes place both on the SEO backend – what the readers don’t see— and also on the end of its visual design and organization — what the readers do see. The social component consists of analyzing algorithms and current social media trends to develop a posting format and new visual design theme for the Instagram account @chargerbulletin, the news organization’s most interactive social platform. The isolation of this account comes with it being the only one currently not dormant – while the organization also has an account on X (formerly Twitter), it has historically gained nearly net-zero engagement in its posts, so for the purposes of this project, the Instagram is the organization’s only living platform, and it is on all fronts the only one with engagement from the student population
Incarcerated Thoughts (Upper Half Close-Up)
No full textCreated 2024
This work of art is acrylic on burlap.https://digitalcommons.newhaven.edu/digital-exhibits/1028/thumbnail.jp
Notas Musicales de tu Jardín
No full textTitle translated to, Musical Notes from your Garden.
Created 2024.
This work of art is watercolor, permanent and acrylic markers on cold press watercolor paper.
This piece uplifts the spirit while recognizing the depths (heavy stuff) from/through which we have come. It reminds us that we come naked to Mother Earth’s altar, witnessed by the flora and fauna surrounding us, being transformed from the depths of agony and traumatic release.https://digitalcommons.newhaven.edu/digital-exhibits/1058/thumbnail.jp
The Keeper of Wild Grace
No full textCreated 2024.
This work of art is mixed media: reclaimed wood, spray paint, acrylic on drawing board, 34.5” by 32”.https://digitalcommons.newhaven.edu/digital-exhibits/1064/thumbnail.jp