Hybrid Learning to Develop Safe Patient Handling Judgement in Occupational Therapy Students

The goal of this mixed methods pilot study was to determine the effectiveness of a hybrid pedagogy to develop safe patient handling knowledge, self-efficacy, and skills in occupational therapy students. Developing safety judgment is integral to occupational therapy education programs, which requires the deepening of knowledge associations. As evidence suggests, patient handling is taught in academic programs with traditional pedagogy. Safe patient handling requires teaching the breadth of the most relevant and contemporary theory and techniques. A growing body of evidence demonstrates the effectiveness of online education. The project author developed an evidence-based hybrid pedagogical approach that included four narrated online modules with video, photos, and asynchronous threaded discussions and a fifth hands-on lab and a case-based competency assessment module. Sixteen occupational therapy students participated in the study. Paired t-test results validated the effectiveness of the hybrid model with statistically significant pre- to post-test improvements in knowledge and self-efficacy. Content analysis of asynchronous threaded discussions and open-ended pre- and post-test responses provided evidence of improved knowledge and self-efficacy. Synthesis of the quantitative and qualitative data provided evidence to suggest improvements in judgment. The case-based competency assessment results demonstrated 75% of the students achieved the level of accomplished performance on their first attempt. Results indicated the desire for additional hands-on practice with instructor feedback to promote further skill development. Students learned safe patient handling when curriculum reflected the complexities of patient handling with adequate opportunities for problem-solving and hands-on experiences coupled with instructor feedback

An Assessment of Mental Wellbeing and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Youth Living in Central Mexico

The current state of adolescent mental health and wellbeing in Mexico constitutes a serious public health concern. In an effort to better understand the potential impact this crisis is having on youth in Central Mexico, we designed a study to assess the connection between Mental Wellbeing and Health-related Quality of Life among a sample of children in junior high school. Descriptive statistics suggest that 22.5% of our sample was “at-risk” of poor health-related quality of life, with 19.8% at risk within the physical subscale and 24.3% at risk within the psychosocial subscale. Regression analyses showed that mental wellbeing scores significantly predicted scores on the physical subscale of the quality of life measure, but did not predict overall wellbeing or psychosocial wellbeing. If replicated, our results may have important implications for health professionals, social workers, researchers, policy makers, and other individuals living in Mexico. We encourage continued research among Mexican youth in rural, underserved areas of Central Mexico such as Michoacán in order to further support strengths-based approaches for improving both their mental wellbeing and quality of life

The Coding of Sound Localization Cues in the Inferior Colliculus

The auditory system uses three cues to decode sound location: interaural time differences (ITDs), interaural level differences (ILDs), and spectral notches (SNs). Initial processing of these cues is performed in several auditory brainstem nuclei that send projections to neurons of the inferior colliculus (IC). This work addresses how information about these different sound localization cues is integrated into the responses of single neurons of the IC. Virtual space techniques were used to create stimulus sets varying in two soundlocalization parameters each. By manipulating pairs of cues within a stimulus set, the relative coding of each cue could be compared. Using a variety of information theoretic methods, the mutual information between the localization cues and the neural response was quantified under the assumption of several different encoding schemes. The results show that the three localization cues are best represented by different codes. ITD information is conveyed by spike rate alone, and is contained only in low frequency neurons. ILD information is best represented by a joint rate/first spike latency code. The coding of SNs changes with the best frequency (BF) of the neuron. Low BF neurons represent SNs by the timing of spikes distributed throughout the response, where the spike times are locked to particular stimulus features. High BF neurons, on the other hand, represent SNs by spike rate and, to a lesser extent, first spike latency. The differential coding of the localization cues suggests that information about multiple cues could be multiplexed onto the responses of single neurons. iii These results have implications for how the localization cues might be integrated into a percept of sound location. The accuracy with which each cue can contribute to the overall location percept changes depending on sound conditions, such as the frequency content of the stimulus, temporal characteristics of the stimulus, or the reverberant qualities of the environment. That the cues are differentially coded in the IC implies that the brain may have access to the individual cues at cortical levels, and the weight with which each cue contributes to the location percept could be tailored to the stimulus, environment, and perceptual task

Swimming and All-Cause Mortality Risk Compared With Running, Walking, and Sedentary Habits in Men

Swimming, water jogging, and aqua aerobics are lifetime physical activities that provide many health benefits comparable to those of walking and running. Research on the association between swimming and mortality is scarce, however. To evaluate the association between different types of physical activity and all-cause mortality, we studied 40,547 men age 20-90 years who completed a health examination during 1971 – 2003. Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to estimate the relative risks according to physical activity exposure categories. A total of 3,386 deaths occurred during 543,330 man-years of observation. After adjustment for age, body-mass index, smoking status, alcohol intake, and family history of cardiovascular disease, swimmers had 53%, 50%, and 49% lower all-cause mortality risks than did men who were sedentary, walkers, or runners, respectively (p \u3c 0.05 for each). Additional adjustment for baseline prevalent diseases did not change the inverse association between different activities and all-cause mortality. In conclusion, swimmers have lower mortality rates in comparison with those who were sedentary, walkers, and runners

Comparison of the Health Aspects of Swimming With Other Types of Physical Activity and Sedentary Lifestyle Habits

Swimming, water jogging, and aqua aerobics may provide health benefits to the general population as well as patients with chronic diseases. Research on the health benefits of aquatic exercise in comparison with activities such as running and walking is scarce, however. The goal of this study was to evaluate characteristics of participants in the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study and to compare health habits and physiological characteristics among swimmers, runners, walkers, and sedentary women and men in order to evaluate the health benefits of swimming compared to other types of physical activity. Participants were 10,518 women and 35,185 men ages 20-88 years who completed a health examination during 1970 and 2005. Differences in the distribution of selected characteristics between swimmers and those participating in other types of activities (sedentary, runners, or walkers) were tested using logistics regression for proportion and ANOVA for continuous variables. The principal findings of this report are that swimming, as well as walking and running, has health benefits compared with a sedentary lifestyle

Taste and Odor Event Dynamics of a Midwestern Freshwater Reservoir

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)Eagle Creek Reservoir (ECR), located in the Midwestern U.S., is a freshwater limnic system plagued by seasonal Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) which generate water-fouling Geosmin (GSM) and 2-Methylisoborneol (MIB) Taste and Odor (T&O) compounds. Past investigations of T&O event dynamics have identified Actinomycetes as responsible for MIB production and several genera of cyanobacteria for GSM production. During 2018, a temporally and spatially expansive sampling regimen of the reservoir was carried out and a battery of biological, chemical, physical, and hyperspectral experiments performed. The resulting data was analyzed using time series, cross-correlation, lag time, and multivariate analyses as well as machine learning algorithms to pick apart and interrogate any relationships between HABs, T&O events, and environmental parameters. The results show that local weather and watershed conditions exert significant control over the state of the reservoir and the behavior of the algal community. GSM and MIB peaked during early May under well-mixed, cold, and nutrient-rich water column conditions, then declined under summer thermal stratification before making a small resurgence during late season mixing. Bloom die-off and decay was effectively ruled out as a mechanism controlling T&O concentrations, and no links were found between T&O concentrations and algal biomass. Strong evidence was found that GSM/MIB concentrations were a response by bloom microbes to changing nutrient conditions within the reservoir, and it was determined that nutrient fluxes from the watershed 30-40 days prior to peak T&O concentrations are likely instrumental in the development of the slow- ix growing microbes characteristic of the reservoir. Attempts were made to assess spatial and temporal variability but no significant spatial differences were identified; differences between sampling sites were far smaller than differences between different sampling dates. The findings here add to the growing body of literature showing T&O and HAB dynamics are more closely linked to the relative abundance and speciation of nutrients than other parameters. Additionally, these findings carry important implications for the management of ECR and other similar freshwater reservoirs while highlighting the importance of reducing watershed eutrophication

Inflatable Vessel Design Study

After interest was shown by the Department of Defense in the architecture and enabling technologies for a persistent, scalable, agile, open, interoperable and coordinated undersea energy, data, command, control and communications distribution network for logistics support of unmanned vehicles and sensors; the graduating class of 2019 were given the opportunity to work with sponsors NUWC and Powerdocks LLC to conduct an “Inflatable Vessel Design Study”. The study consists of a variety of designs based on parameters and objectives provided by NUWC and Powerdocks. The goal of the study was to have students design concept vessels for their numerous applications based on their specifications. Some of these objectives the sponsors were looking for included an inflatable vessel capable of navigating at sea-state 3-5 and be able to carry a load of 100 lbs. Additionally, the vessel needs to have the ability to maneuver at a 6 knot hull speed and feature puncture resistance. Other features of the vessel include ensuring optimal vessel dimensions and considerations surrounding draft to minimize overall size. Per PowerDocks, the vessel also must accommodate space for their “Black Box” (which is to act as a brain for the vessel attachments) that will be which will be placed on the vessel’s featured flat deck. The process in efforts to complete this design study began with initial research of possible related patents and any literature that may have provided ideas and concepts to provide a sound base for the study. Subsequently, concept generation was the next step in the process where each member brainstormed and provided ideas to solve the problem given. Various concepts were produced and the most feasible were chosen and used for further study. Presentations were given to the class, professor and sponsors on progress as well as proof of concept at two different intervals of the semester. Substantial engineering analysis was completed for each of the selected concepts and basic material testing has begun. Throughout the design process the progression of the team and management was collected in a Gantt chart and weekly progress reports were completed and submitted to the professors and sponsors. Two meetings with team 19’s sponsor also took place off-campus for additional information gathering, guiacance, and touring. At the beginning of the Spring Semester, the realization of the entire project took place as material testing (environmental, tensile and puncture).After tensile testing it was deduced that PVC was the most feasible material to have the vessel made from. One final model was conceptualized from the initial four designs and was altered as the semester progressed. Once the final model was complete; the final engineering analysis on the updated design was calculated. It was realized that the vessel would be approximately three times more buoyant than necessary which would be an added bonus to ensure its maneuverability in the water. Within the final model, some adjustments were made like the addition of ABS flooring to help with the rigidity of the vessel, the flat deck requirements and the inflation. Folding patterns were conceptualized as the semester ended as it was a requirement but as there was no prototype, this could not be demonstrated physically. Preparation for the build and test review commenced with three weeks left in the second semester of the project. Sponsors NUWC and Powerdocks attended the presentation and gave great support and appreciation of the overall progress that was made with the project. Both were extremely impressed with the dedication and perseverance the entire team showed in reaching the end goal. Finally, steps were taken to ensure the project was documented in its entirety in a formal report and all engineering journals and engineering binder updated. Further work would include attempts at getting a scaled prototype manufactured to test in NUWC’s wave pool facilities as well as getting quotes from companies on locally and possibly globally on manufacturing these vessels on a large scale to provide to all maring ports in the US and outside

Uric Acid as a Potential Peripheral Biomarker for Disease Features in Huntington's Patients.

Oxidative stress has long been implicated in the pathophysiology and progression of Huntington's disease (HD). Uric acid (UA) is a naturally occurring antioxidant that is present in the brain and periphery. Growing evidence has implicated UA as a molecular biomarker for several neurodegenerative diseases, most notably Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, we investigated UA levels in clinical samples from HD patients and normal controls (NCs) and assessed potential relationships between UA levels and disease and clinical data. UA levels were measured in plasma (n = 107) and saliva (n = 178) samples from premanifest (pre-HD) and manifest HD patients and control subjects. Gender effects of UA levels were observed in both biofluids, with male patients showing higher UA levels compared to female patients. Comparisons of UA levels across diagnostic groups, separated by gender, revealed that both plasma and salivary UA levels were significantly lower in female pre-HD and manifest HD patients compared to NCs. Salivary levels of UA were also significantly lower in male manifest HD patients versus controls, but not in plasma. Correlations of peripheral UA levels to clinical data also showed differences according to gender. In male HD patients, both plasma and salivary UA levels were significantly negatively correlated with total functional capacity (TFC), while positive correlations were observed with total motor score (TMS). Female HD patients showed a significant positive correlation between plasma UA levels and TMS, while salivary UA levels from female patients were significantly correlated to disease burden. Finally, in a separate cohort, we show that UA levels are decreased in postmortem prefrontal cortical samples (n = 20) from HD subjects compared to matched controls. These findings suggest that decreased levels of UA in the brains of HD patients can be reflected in peripheral fluids, with salivary measures of UA particularly offering significant promise as a potentially relevant, non-invasive biomarker of disease symptoms and burden. Our findings further highlight the impact of sexual dimorphism in HD pathophysiology