The Iowa Homemaker vol.22, no.4

Navy Learns To Cook, Virginia Bates, page 2 Keeping Up With Today, Mary Lou Springer, page 3 Soybeans Join Victory March, Virginia Brainard, page 4 A Salute to Christian Petersen, Virginia Carter, page 5 Textiles Meet War’s Challenge, Betty Roth, page 6 Engineering Enlists Women, Bette Simpson, page 7 What’s New In Home Economics, Helen Horton, page 8 Across Alumnae Desks, Mary Ellen Sullivan, page 10 That Wartime Package, Grace Brown, page 12 Alums in the News, Harriet Zook, page 14 Bookmarks, Eileen Dudgeon, page 1

Roll for Initiative! 101 Just Leveled Up: Choosing Intentionality in Course Redesign

Background: As demand for the health sciences (HS) section of the Library\u27s introductory credit-bearing information literacy course outpaced available course seats and after a change to the course registration software made the section difficult to locate, a need was identified to update the coursework to be more relevant to HS students\u27 specific learning needs. Three HS librarians and the Libraries\u27 Office of Curriculum and Instructional Support (OCIS) collaborated to revamp this section to better meet the needs of future healthcare professionals. The revamped coursework was instituted beginning Fall 2021, and in Fall 2022 the section became its own unique class. Methods: The course revision used the ADDIE and backward design models (Wiggins and McTighe, 2005). We analyzed faculty demand and HS student information literacy needs. After reviewing the HS section content, we re-designed the course based on this analysis. OCIS assisted the HS librarians with course development and led the content implementation into Blackboard, our CMS. To evaluate, we reviewed Student Evaluation of Instruction (SEIs) pertaining to course design. We also used text-mining on the students\u27 end-of-course reflection reports; a sentiment analysis examined students\u27 emotional response to the course and topic modeling determined if topics found in the students’ reflections align with the course outcomes. Results: This presentation will present and discuss class assignments, analysis of SEIs and student reflections, and lessons learned through implementing the course. Conclusions: Moving forward, we will continue gathering feedback each semester on course successes and pain points. Small adjustments to wording and presentation of assignments have been implemented for Fall 2022. Next steps include creating project overview videos, a course glossary, and making room in the class for students to evaluate digitized historical patient education materials in preparation for creating their own

The Effects of Danofloxacin and Tilmicosin on Neutrophil Function and Lung Consolidation in Beef Heifer Calves with Induced Pasteurella (Mannheimia) haemolytica Pneumonia

Pneumonia caused by Pasteurella (Mannheimia) haemolytica was induced in weaned beef heifer calves, approximately 6 months of age. Calves were treated at 20 h after challenge with therapeutic doses of danofloxacin or tilmicosin. Peripheral blood neutrophils were collected at 3, 24 and 48 h after treatment. The ex vivo effects on neutrophil function, neutrophil apoptosis, and hematological parameters were examined, as was the effect on percentage lung consolidation. Neutrophil function assays included random migration under agarose, cytochrome C reduction, iodination, Staphylococcus aureus ingestion, chemotaxis, and antibody-dependent and antibody-independent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Apoptosis was determined using a cell death detection kit. Killing was performed at 72 h after treatment. Statistical comparisons were made among the three groups of challenged–treated animals: saline, danofloxacin, and tilmicosin. Comparisons were also made between nonchallenged nontreated animals (NCH) and challenged saline-treated animals. There were no significant differences for any of the neutrophil function assays or neutrophil apoptosis among the challenged–treated groups. This suggests that danofloxacin and tilmicosin have no clinically significant effects on neutrophil function or apoptosis. There were also no significant differences in percentage lung consolidation among the challenged–treated groups. Significant differences were found between the NCH calves and the challenged saline-treated calves in several neutrophil assays, which were attributed to effects of P. haemolyticainfectio

The Iowa Homemaker vol.22, no.8

Keeping Up With Today, Virginia Brainard, page 4 Letter from Overseas, Martha Kitchen, page 5 Nutrition in the Nursery, Phyllis Lee, page 6 Iowa Staters Feed Wartime Washington, Eileen Dudgeon, page 7 What’s New in Home Economics, Helen Horton, page 8 We Britons Tighten Our Belts, Mr. and Mrs. Sharp, page 10 In a Teacher’s World, Betty Roth, page 11 Across Alumnae Desks, Mary Ellen Sullivan, page 12 Alums in the News, Janet Russell, page 14 We Recommend, Eileen Dudgeon, page 15 Textiles See Action, Ann Mason, page 1

Influence of Corn Stover Harvest on Soil Quality Assessments at Multiple Locations Across the U.S.

Corn (Zea mays L.) stover has been identified as a biofuel feedstock due to its abundance and a perception that the residues are unused trash material. However, corn stover and other plant residues play a role in maintaining soil quality (health) and enhancing productivity, thus use of this abundant material as feedstock must be balanced with the need to protect the vital soil resource. Plant residues provide physical protection against erosion by wind and water, contribute to soil structure, nutrient cycling, and help sustain the soil microbiota. Replicated plots were established on productive soils at several locations (IA, IN, MN, NE, PA, SD, and SC) and a multi-year study was carried out to determine the amount of corn stover that can be removed while maintaining the current level of soil quality for each soil. These sites represented a range of soil types and climatic conditions, and have been ongoing for and least five years with some much longer studies. All sites had at least three levels of stover harvest: grain only (control), maximum removal (90-100%) and a mid-range removal rate (~50%). Data from 4 sites are presented (IA, IN, MN, and NE). The Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) was used to score and assess changes in selected soil quality indicators. Data shows that removal at the highest rates resulted in some loss in soil quality with respect to soil organic carbon and bulk density. These sites were converted to no-till when the experiments were initiated, thus SOC accrual because of the shift in tillage management appeared to balance any losses due to feedstock harvest

Racial Disparities in Systemic Sclerosis: Short- and Long-Term Outcomes Among African American Participants of SLS I and II

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate short- and long-term outcomes of African American (AA) participants of Scleroderma Lung Studies (SLS) I and II. METHODS: SLS I randomized 158 participants with systemic sclerosis-interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) to 1 year of oral cyclophosphamide (CYC) versus placebo. SLS II randomized 142 participants with SSc-ILD to 1 year of oral CYC followed by 1 year of placebo versus 2 years of mycophenolate (MMF). Joint models compared the course of forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) between AA and non-AA, and Cox proportional hazard models assessed long-term morbidity and mortality outcomes. RESULTS: In SLS I, there was no difference in the course of the FVC or DLCO between AA and non-AA in either treatment arm. In SLS II, AA had an improved course of the FVC compared with non-AA in the CYC arm; in the MMF arm, there was no difference in FVC course. There was no difference in DLCO course in either arm. Time to death and respiratory failure were similar for AA and non-AA in SLS I. There was a trend for improved survival and time to respiratory failure in AA compared with non-AA in SLS II. AA race was not independently associated with mortality in the SLS I or II in the Cox models. CONCLUSION: Data from two randomized controlled trials demonstrated that AA patients with SSc-ILD have similar morbidity and mortality outcomes compared with non-AA patients. These findings contrast with the racial disparities described in prior observational studies and warrant further investigation

The Iowa Homemaker vol.21, no.8

We Want to Be Likeable, Mary Ellen Sullivan, page 2 Cotton hose Enlist Glamour, Elizabeth Ann Murfield, page 3 Memorial Union Plans Food for a Year, Pat Garberson, page 4 Government Drafts Textiles, Patricia Hayes, page 5 Gay Clothes Boost Sally’s Morale, Virginia Brainard, page 7 War Revamps Textile World, Betty Roth, page 8 Dehydrated Foods Gain New Victories, Janet Wilson, page 9 What’s New in Home Economics, Dorothy Olson, page 10 Departmental Highlights, Lila Williamson, page 12 War Rations British Homemaking, Marabeth Paddock, page 13 Across Alumnae Desks, Marjorie Thomas, page 14 Bookmarks, Julie Wendel, page 15 File That Information, Barbara Burbank, page 17 Alums in the News, Bette Simpson, page 18 For Victory, Margaret Ann Kirchner, page 20 Spindles, Trymby Calhoun, page 2

Completeness of prescription information in US commercial claims databases

Pharmacy commercial claims databases are widely used for pharmacoepidemiologic research. However, concerns have been raised that these databases may not fully capture claims for generic medication as a result of patients filling outside the context of their insurance. This has implications for many research activities and quality improvement programs. We sought to estimate the percentage of missing drug claims in US commercial claims data using a novel design

Improving prescribing practices with rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs): synthesis of 10 studies to explore reasons for variation in malaria RDT uptake and adherence.

OBJECTIVES: The overuse of antimalarial drugs is widespread. Effective methods to improve prescribing practice remain unclear. We evaluated the impact of 10 interventions that introduced rapid diagnostic tests for malaria (mRDTs) on the use of tests and adherence to results in different contexts. DESIGN: A comparative case study approach, analysing variation in outcomes across different settings. SETTING: Studies from the ACT Consortium evaluating mRDTs with a range of supporting interventions in 6 malaria endemic countries. Providers were governmental or non-governmental healthcare workers, private retail sector workers or community volunteers. Each study arm in a distinct setting was considered a case. PARTICIPANTS: 28 cases from 10 studies were included, representing 148 461 patients seeking care for suspected malaria. INTERVENTIONS: The interventions included different mRDT training packages, supervision, supplies and community sensitisation. OUTCOME MEASURES: Analysis explored variation in: (1) uptake of mRDTs (% febrile patients tested); (2) provider adherence to positive mRDTs (% Plasmodium falciparum positive prescribed/given Artemisinin Combination Treatment); (3) provider adherence to negative mRDTs (% P. falciparum negative not prescribed/given antimalarial). RESULTS: Outcomes varied widely across cases: 12-100% mRDT uptake; 44-98% adherence to positive mRDTs; 27-100% adherence to negative mRDTs. Providers appeared more motivated to perform well when mRDTs and intervention characteristics fitted with their own priorities. Goodness of fit of mRDTs with existing consultation and diagnostic practices appeared crucial to maximising the impact of mRDTs on care, as did prior familiarity with malaria testing; adequate human resources and supplies; possible alternative treatments for mRDT-negative patients; a more directive intervention approach and local preferences for ACTs. CONCLUSIONS: Basic training and resources are essential but insufficient to maximise the potential of mRDTs in many contexts. Programme design should respond to assessments of provider priorities, expectations and capacities. As mRDTs become established, the intensity of supporting interventions required seems likely to reduce

Cloxacillin versus vancomycin for presumed late-onset sepsis in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the impact upon outcome of coagulase negative staphylococcal bacteremia: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: Coagulase negative staphylococcus (CONS) is the main cause of late-onset sepsis in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU). Although CONS rarely causes fulminant sepsis, vancomycin is frequently used as empiric therapy. Indiscriminate use of vancomycin has been linked to the emergence of vancomycin resistant organisms. The objective of this study was to compare duration of CONS sepsis and mortality before and after implementation of a policy of selective vancomycin use and compare use of vancomycin between the 2 time periods. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of infants ≥4 days old, experiencing signs of sepsis with a first positive blood culture for CONS, during two 12-month periods. Late-onset sepsis was treated empirically with vancomycin and gentamicin during period 1, and cloxacillin and gentamicin during period 2. The confidence interval method was used to assess non-inferiority of the outcomes between the two study groups. RESULTS: There were 45 episodes of CONS sepsis during period 1 and 37 during period 2. Duration of sepsis was similar between periods (hazard ratio of 1.00, 95%CI: 0.64, 1.57). One death during period 2 was possibly related to CONS sepsis versus none in period 1. Vancomycin was used in 97.8% of episodes in period 1 versus 81.1% of episodes in period 2. CONCLUSION: Although we failed to show non-inferiority of duration of sepsis in the cloxacillin and gentamicin group compared to the vancomycin and gentamicin group, duration of sepsis was clinically similar. Restricting vancomycin for confirmed cases of CONS sepsis resistant to oxacillin appears effective and safe, and significantly reduces vancomycin use in the NICU