An exploratory study of the process of mental health consultation to the schools

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston Universit

PHOSPHORUS-BASED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANNING ON DAIRY/POULTRY FARMS: IMPLICATIONS FOR ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS

The effects of phosphorus (P)-based nutrient management plans on economic and environmental risks of dairy and dairy-poultry farms in Virginia were evaluated. Phosphorus-based nutrient management plans can greatly reduce P runoff risk but also reduce farmers' returns. P-based plans cause greater reductions in returns and P runoff on the dairy-poultry farm than on the dairy only farm.nutrient runoff, cost, mathematical programming, simulation, watershed, Environmental Economics and Policy, Livestock Production/Industries,

A focus on cross-purpose tools, automated recognition of study design in multiple disciplines, and evaluation of automation tools: a summary of significant discussions at the fourth meeting of the International Collaboration for Automation of Systematic Reviews (ICASR)

The fourth meeting of the International Collaboration for Automation of Systematic Reviews (ICASR) was held 5–6 November 2019 in The Hague, the Netherlands. ICASR is an interdisciplinary group whose goal is to maximize the use of technology for conducting rapid, accurate, and efficient systematic reviews of scientific evidence. The group seeks to facilitate the development and acceptance of automated techniques for systematic reviews. In 2018, the major themes discussed were the transferability of automation tools (i.e., tools developed for other purposes that might be used by systematic reviewers), the automated recognition of study design in multiple disciplines and applications, and approaches for the evaluation of automation tools

Potential for Cell-Transplant Therapy with Human Neuronal Precursors to Treat Neuropathic Pain in Models of PNS and CNS Injury: Comparison of hNT2.17 and hNT2.19 Cell Lines

Effective treatment of sensory neuropathies in peripheral neuropathies and spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most difficult problems in modern clinical practice. Cell therapy to release antinociceptive agents near the injured spinal cord is a logical next step in the development of treatment modalities. But few clinical trials, especially for chronic pain, have tested the potential of transplant of cells to treat chronic pain. Cell lines derived from the human neuronal NT2 cell line parentage, the hNT2.17 and hNT2.19 lines, which synthesize and release the neurotransmitters gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and serotonin (5HT), respectively, have been used to evaluate the potential of cell-based release of antinociceptive agents near the lumbar dorsal (horn) spinal sensory cell centers to relieve neuropathic pain after PNS (partial nerve and diabetes-related injury) and CNS (spinal cord injury) damage in rat models. Both cell lines transplants potently and permanently reverse behavioral hypersensitivity without inducing tumors or other complications after grafting. Functioning as cellular minipumps for antinociception, human neuronal precursors, like these NT2-derived cell lines, would likely provide a useful adjuvant or replacement for current pharmacological treatments for neuropathic pain

Student Success and Time Management in College Algebra

The panel will illustrate how the students’ completion of the instructional system ALEKS objectives correlates with student success and retention rates. The panel will also discuss the influence of factors such as time management on success and the promotion of good study practices for students using computer-based learning systems

Access to Health Care: Perspectives on Transportation as a Social Determinant of Health

Transportation has a profound impact on a person’s ability to access health care, and ultimately receive timely medical care. Increasingly, transportation is recognized for its role in fulfilling public health needs. In a time of growing health disparities, research is needed to understand how transportation availability impacts access to care and in what ways innovation in the transportation sector might address these challenges. This dissertation contributes to this gap by examining the role of transportation as a social determinant of health in three related papers. In the first paper, I use nationally representative data to estimate the prevalence of transportation barriers to health care in the United States. I look at longitudinal trends as well as sociodemographic and health correlates of this barrier. I find that 5.8 million people in the U.S. delayed medical care because of a lack of transportation in 2017, and this barrier disproportionately affects individuals who are poor and who have chronic conditions. In the second paper, I examine how public transportation connects people with medical care in a rural setting. I determine the scope and nature of health care transportation provided by the sole transit provider in a rural North Carolina county, analyzing spatial patterns of trip demand and differences in trip characteristics by funding source. This study showcases how the health needs of a community ultimately influence the behavior of a rural transit agency. In the third paper, I present findings from a nationwide scan of new mobility strategies for delivering health care transportation in the era of shared mobility. This research documents the ways in which ridesourcing technology is being leveraged to transport people to medical care and proposes a typology of innovative health care transportation services. These analyses document a significant and persistent problem in access to health care in the U.S. Findings suggest that transportation to health facilities should remain an important consideration in health care delivery at the federal level, at the level of state and local governments in North Carolina, and among new and existing transportation companies during a time of growing health disparities, rapidly changing transportation technology, and evolving health care policy.Doctor of Philosoph

Innovative health care mobility services in the US

Background Transportation barriers prevent millions of people from accessing health care each year. Health policy innovations such as shared savings payment models (commonly used in accountable care organizations) present financial incentives for providers to offer patient transportation to medical care. Meanwhile, ridesourcing companies like Uber and Lyft have entered the market to capture a significant share of spending on non-emergency health care transportation. Our research examines the current landscape of innovative health care mobility services in the US. Methods We conducted an environmental scan to identify case examples of utilization of ridesourcing technology to facilitate non-emergency health care transportation and developed a typology of innovative health care mobility services. The scan used a keyword-based search of news publications with inductive analysis. For each instance identified, we abstracted key information including: stakeholders, launch date, transportation provider, location/service area, payment/booking method, target population, level of service, and any documented outcomes. Results We discovered 53 cases of innovation and among them we identified three core types of innovation or collaboration. The first and most common type of innovation is when a health care provider leverages ridesourcing technology to book patient trips. This involves both established and nascent transportation companies tailoring the ridesourcing experience to the health care industry by adding HIPAA-compliance to the booking process. The second type of innovation involves an insurer or health plan formally partnering with a ridesourcing company to expand transportation offerings to beneficiaries or offer these services for the first time. The third type of innovation is when a paratransit provider partners with a ridesourcing company; these cases cite increased flexibility and reliability of ridesourcing services compared to traditional paratransit. Conclusions Ridesourcing options are becoming a part of the mode choice set for patients through formal partnerships between ridesourcing companies, health care providers, insurers, and transit agencies. The on-demand nature of rides, booking flexibility, and integration of ride requests and payment options via electronic medical records appear to be the strongest drivers of this innovation. Document type: Articl