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Role of Race and Ethnicity in the Development, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
No full textGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most common metabolic disorder of pregnancy, and rates of this disease have been steadily increasing over the past ten years. GDM disproportionately impacts racial and ethnic minorities at higher rates than their Caucasian counterparts. In this study, the PRECEDE model framework was employed during a literature review to gain a greater understanding of the complex risk factors contributing to differences in the development, diagnosis, and treatment of GDM among these population subgroups. The second part of this study concentrated on reviewing the extent to which current literature evaluates the role of race and ethnicity in the development, diagnosis, and treatment of GDM. Of the articles included in this study, 46.67% had no mention of the key terms “race” or “ethnicity,” and this was the most prevalent categorization of articles. Meta-analyses were the study format most likely to incorporate race and ethnicity into their primary research question, at a rate ten percent higher than other evaluated research study designs. There is a clear need for further research into this topic, especially given the extent to which race and ethnicity have been associated with differences in GDM rates and outcomes. It is the recommendation of this study that the most effective way to facilitate more research in this field is to have specific grants designated for race and ethnicity research
Examining Stress and Anxiety Levels Among Undergraduate Music Majors at the University of South Carolina
No full textThe purpose of this study was to examine the stress and anxiety levels among undergraduate music majors at the University of South Carolina (USC) and identify potential stressors that might be unique or more prevalent among that specific population. To evaluate this, a questionnaire consisting of 42 questions was administered to participants. Most of the questions were carefully developed by the researcher; however, the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen et al, 1983) was used to examine participants\u27 stress levels, and 13 selected questions from the Burns Anxiety Inventory (Burns, 1989) were used to examine their anxiety levels. A total of 45 participants completed the questionnaire. Of this group, 20 participants indicated interest in being part of an hour-long focus group session. Four participated, resulting in the collection of personal statements in the form of transcripts.
The questionnaire and focus group results indicated that undergraduate music majors at USC have moderate to high self-reported stress levels. The data collected on self-reported anxiety levels using questions from the Burns Anxiety Inventory (Burns, 1989) were not clinically reliable. The statements from participants about stressors they had experienced in their degree programs were split into three categories: Student Well-Being, Academic Pressure, and Structural Academic Barriers. From these findings, professional and pedagogical implications in the realm of collegiate music schools were discussed, as well as limitations to the study and ideas for future improvement
Episode 99: Creme de la Creme: Phi Beta Kappa at USC
No full textMore than 200 years ago, students at Carolina tried to start a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa — now the nation\u27s most prestigious honor society — but their application was rejected by an Ivy League college. More than a century later, they tried again and succeeded, paving the way for high-achieving students to earn membership in one of academia\u27s most exclusive clubs.https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/rememberingthedays/1100/thumbnail.jp
Messages and Misogyny: A Creative Intervention Portraying the Embodied Experiences of Internalized Misogyny
No full textMonitoring Opioid-Use-Disorder Treatment Adherence Using Smartwatch Gesture Recognition
No full textThe opioid epidemic in the United States has significantly impacted pregnant women with opioid use disorder (OUD), leading to increased health and social complications. This study explores the feasibility of using machine learning algorithms with consumer-grade smartwatches to identify medication-taking gestures. The research specifically focuses on treatments for OUD, investigating methadone and buprenorphine taking gestures. Participants (n = 16, all female university students) simulated medication-taking gestures in a controlled lab environment over two weeks, with data collected via Ticwatch E and E3 smartwatches running custom ASPIRE software. The study employed a RegNet-style 1D ResNet model to analyze gesture data, achieving high performance in three classification scenarios: distinguishing between medication types, separating medication gestures from daily activities, and detecting any medication-taking gesture. The model’s overall F1 scores were 0.89, 0.88, and 0.96 for each scenario, respectively. These findings suggest that smartwatch-based gesture recognition could enhance real-time monitoring and adherence to medication regimens for OUD treatment. Limitations include the use of simulated gestures and a small, homogeneous participant pool, warranting further real-world validation. This approach has the potential to improve patient outcomes and management strategies
South Carolina Alternative Route Teacher Pipeline Report for 2023–24
No full textThis report presents a detailed analysis of South Carolina’s alternative route teacher workforce for the 2023–24 academic year, with a focus on preparation and retention. As part of SC TEACHER’s ongoing commitment to providing statewide educator workforce profiles, this publication, along with SC TEACHER’s broader research, offers timely, actionable data to inform educators, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
The findings presented here are based on educator-level data provided by the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) for 2023–24, along with longitudinal data from the 2019–20 through 2022–23 academic years. The 2023–24 analyses reflect a sample of 5,079 educators affiliated with state-approved alternative certification programs. With a focus on alternative route teachers, these findings may support the development of data-informed strategies to strengthen the overall educator pipeline, improve retention, and enhance recruitment pathways across the state
Designing Xai Chatbots to Enhance Self-Efficacy in Youth in Pathfinding Problem Domains
No full textSelf-efficacy is a critical component of self-regulated learning (SRL), which empowers youth to overcome challenges and achieve learn- ing goals. In this study, we designed ALLURE, a multimodal artifi- cial intelligence (AI)-driven platform embodied with an XAI-driven chatbot to teach youth to solve a pathfinding problem, i.e., the Rubik\u27s Cube, with the goal of improving their self-efficacy. Using ALLURE as a use case, we examine how various personas inter- act with an XAI-driven chatbot and how these interactions shape youths\u27 self-efficacy. Personas offer a valuable design and evalua- tion strategy for modeling learner variability, enabling designers to represent and respond to differences in cognitive styles, motiva- tional profiles, and affective states, especially in early-stage systems like XAI-driven chatbots. Through interviews, think-alouds, and observational notes from usability testing, the results of this pre- liminary study indicate that while XAI-driven chatbots enhance self-efficacy, their effectiveness is not uniform across all youth. Findings underscore the need for educational chatbots to accom- modate diverse learning needs and preferences. Further, study findings offer implications for developing XAI-driven chatbots that provide transparent, tailored interactions to foster self-efficacy and competency in educational contexts
Caregiving Burdens of Task Time and Task Difficulty Among Paid and Unpaid Caregivers of Persons Living with Dementia
No full textBackground: Demands of caregivers of persons living with dementia (PLWD) are often influenced by the context of their caregiving situation. This study examines common and unique factors associated with caregiving burden in terms of task time and task difficulty among paid and unpaid caregivers of PLWD. Methods: Cross-sectional baseline survey data were analyzed from 107 paid and unpaid caregivers of PLWD participating in a larger NIH-funded study assessing the feasibility of using a novel in-situ sensor system. Oberst Caregiving Burden Scale constructs of task time and task difficulty served as dependent variables. Two least squares regression models were fitted, controlling for contextual items related to the caregiver, care recipient, and caregiving logistics. Results: Caregivers whose care recipients were female (B = −0.29, p = 0.006), had more chronic conditions (B = 0.31, p = 0.011), and had lower Mini-Mental State Exam scores (B = −0.20, p = 0.015) reported higher task time burdens. Caregivers whose care recipients had other paid caregivers (B = 0.30, p = 0.031) and spent more months/years caring for their care recipients (B = 0.28, p = 0.004) reported higher task time burdens. Caregivers’ task time burden was positively associated with their emotional stress level (B = 0.30, p = 0.020). Caregivers’ task difficulty burden was positively associated with their emotional stress (B = 0.30, p = 0.029) and depressive symptomatology (B = 0.32, p = 0.002). Discussion: Results reinforce the relationship between caregiver burden and mental health impacts. While the care recipient’s disease profile and needs were drivers of task time burden, which may also require coordination with other paid caregivers, task difficulty was emotionally driven. Findings highlight the importance of caregiver support services and programming for mental health
