57 results on '"Ford, Laura"'
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2. Healthcare providers' knowledge and clinical practice surrounding shigellosis — DocStyles Survey, 2020.
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Haston, Julia C., Ford, Laura, Vanden Esschert, Kayla L., Plumb, Ian D., Logan, Naeemah, Francois Watkins, Louise K., and Garcia-Williams, Amanda G.
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FOOD contamination , *FISHER exact test , *SURVEYS , *INFECTION control , *INTELLECT , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *CHI-squared test , *SHIGELLOSIS , *PHYSICIAN practice patterns , *DRUG resistance in microorganisms , *DATA analysis software , *MEN who have sex with men , *PATIENT education , *SHIGELLA , *INFECTIOUS disease transmission - Abstract
Background: Shigellosis is an acute diarrheal disease transmitted through contaminated food, water, objects, poor hand hygiene, or sexual activity. Healthcare providers (HCP) may not be aware of the multiple routes of Shigella transmission, populations at increased risk, or importance of antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST). This study assessed HCP knowledge and clinical practices regarding shigellosis and antibiotic resistance. Methods: Porter Novelli Public Services administered a web-based survey (Fall DocStyles 2020) to HCP in the United States. Pediatricians, primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants completed questions about knowledge and clinical practice of acute diarrhea and shigellosis. Results: Of 2196 HCP contacted, 1503 responded (68% response rate). Most identified contaminated food (85%) and water (79%) as routes of Shigella transmission; fewer recognized person-to-person contact (40%) and sexual activity (18%). Men who have sex with men (MSM) were identified as being at risk for shigellosis by 35% of respondents. Most reported counseling patients to wash hands (86%) and avoid food preparation (77%) when ill with shigellosis; 29% reported recommending avoiding sex. Many HCP reported treating shigellosis empirically with ciprofloxacin (62%) and azithromycin (32%), and 29% reported using AST to guide treatment. Conclusions: We identified several gaps in shigellosis knowledge among HCP including MSM as a risk group, person-to-person transmission, and appropriate antibiotic use. Improving HCP education could prevent the spread of shigellosis, including drug-resistant infections, among vulnerable populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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3. Sociological Faith: Reflections on the Life and Legacy of Robert Bellah.
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Ford, Laura R.
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FAITH , *SOCIAL theory , *SOCIAL movements , *UNITED States history , *INTELLECTUAL life - Abstract
In Matteo Bortolini's elegant and thoughtfully-written biographical account of Robert Bellah, we are given the opportunity to study an arc of development in U.S. sociological theory over the course of the 20th Century, in contact with several of sociology's most influential shapers. This means that, to grapple with Bellah's life, as presented by Bortolini, is to grapple with the ways that a broad range of social movements in American history, perhaps most powerfully the 1960's "counter-culture," have shaped contemporary American sociological theory and cultural life, particularly in the area of religion, but also in the area of politics. It is difficult, perhaps impossible, to remain neutral about such developments, and therefore about the character of Bellah himself, as Bortolini presents him. And yet Bortolini manages to achieve an admirable even-handedness in his treatment of Bellah, albeit through a rhetorical strategy that carries risks, as this essay illustrates. In this essay, I accept Bortolini's welcome and important invitation to grapple with Robert Bellah's life and legacy. Unlike Bortolini, I am unable to be even-handed, but I do strive to be fair. While I acknowledge the ways in which Bellah enriched sociological theories of culture, my overall assessment of Bellah's legacy is very negative. In Robert Bellah's religiously-tinged politicization of sociology, and in his relentlessly hostile attacks on political and religious positions with which he disagreed, I see prescriptions for the terribly intensified culture wars of today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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4. Strain of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Newport Remains Linked to Travel to Mexico and U.S. Beef Products -- United States, 2021-2022.
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Ford, Laura, Ellison, Zachary, Schwensohn, Colin, Griffin, Isabel, Birhane, Meseret G., Cote, Andrea, Fortenberry, Gamola Z., Tecle, Selam, Higa, Jeffrey, Spencer, Samantha, Patton, Brianna, Patel, Jaimini, Dow, Julie, Maroufi, Azarnoush, Robbins, Amy, Donovan, Danielle, Fitzgerald, Conor, Burrell, Sierra, Tolar, Beth, and Folster, Jason P.
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SALMONELLA , *MULTIDRUG resistance in bacteria , *TRAVEL hygiene , *BEEF microbiology , *MICROBIAL sensitivity tests - Abstract
In 2016, CDC identified a multidrug-resistant (MDR) strain of Salmonella enterica serotype Newport that is now monitored as a persisting strain (REPJJP01). Isolates have been obtained from U.S. residents in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, linked to travel to Mexico, consumption of beef products obtained in the United States, or cheese obtained in Mexico. In 2021, the number of isolates of this strain approximately doubled compared with the 2018-2020 baseline and remained high in 2022. During January 1, 2021-December 31, 2022, a total of 1,308 isolates were obtained from patients, cattle, and sheep; 86% were MDR, most with decreased susceptibility to azithromycin. Approximately one half of patients were Hispanic or Latino; nearly one half reported travel to Mexico during the month preceding illness, and one third were hospitalized. Two multistate outbreak investigations implicated beef products obtained in the United States. This highly resistant strain might spread through travelers, animals, imported foods, domestic foods, or other sources. Isolates from domestic and imported cattle slaughtered in the United States suggests a possible source of contamination. Safe food and drink consumption practices while traveling and interventions across the food production chain to ensure beef safety are necessary in preventing illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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5. Antimicrobial-Resistant Nontyphoidal Salmonella Infection Following International Travel—United States, 2018–2019.
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Ford, Laura, Shah, Hazel J, Eikmeier, Dana, Hanna, Samir, Chen, Jessica, Tagg, Kaitlin A, Langley, Gayle, Payne, Daniel C, and Plumb, Ian D
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SALMONELLA diseases , *INTERNATIONAL travel , *FOODBORNE diseases , *WATCHFUL waiting , *GENETIC testing - Abstract
Background Antimicrobial resistance in nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) can limit treatment options. We assessed the contribution of international travel to antimicrobial-resistant NTS infections. Methods We describe NTS infections that were reported to the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network during 2018–2019 and screened for genetic resistance determinants, including those conferring decreased susceptibility to first-line agents (ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, or azithromycin). We used multivariable logistic regression to assess the association between resistance and international travel during the 7 days before illness began. We estimated the contribution of international travel to resistance using population-attributable fractions, and we examined reported antimicrobial use. Results Among 9301 NTS infections, 1159 (12%) occurred after recent international travel. Predicted resistance to first-line antimicrobials was more likely following travel; the adjusted odds ratio varied by travel region and was highest after travel to Asia (adjusted odds ratio, 7.2 [95% confidence interval, 5.5–9.5]). Overall, 19% (95% confidence interval, 17%–22%) of predicted resistance to first-line antimicrobials was attributable to international travel. More travelers than nontravelers receiving ciprofloxacin or other fluoroquinolones had isolates with predicted resistance to fluoroquinolones (29% vs 9%, respectively; P <.01). Conclusions International travel is a substantial risk factor for antimicrobial-resistant NTS infections. Understanding risks of resistant infection could help target prevention efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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6. Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance of Campylobacter Infections in the United States, 2005–2018.
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Ford, Laura, Healy, Jessica M, Cui, Zhaohui, Ahart, Lauren, Medalla, Felicita, Ray, Logan C, Reynolds, Jared, Laughlin, Mark E, Vugia, Duc J, Hanna, Samir, Bennett, Christy, Chen, Jessica, Rose, Erica Billig, Bruce, Beau B, Payne, Daniel C, and Watkins, Louise K Francois
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CAMPYLOBACTER infections , *DRUG resistance in microorganisms , *MICROBIAL sensitivity tests , *FOODBORNE diseases , *EPIDEMIOLOGY - Abstract
Background Campylobacter is the most common cause of bacterial diarrhea in the United States; resistance to macrolides and fluoroquinolones limits treatment options. We examined the epidemiology of US Campylobacter infections and changes in resistance over time. Methods The Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network receives information on laboratory-confirmed Campylobacter cases from 10 US sites, and the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System receives a subset of isolates from these cases for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. We estimated trends in incidence of Campylobacter infection, adjusting for sex, age, and surveillance changes attributable to culture-independent diagnostic tests. We compared percentages of isolates resistant to erythromycin or ciprofloxacin during 2005–2016 with 2017–2018 and used multivariable logistic regression to examine the association of international travel with resistance. Results Adjusted Campylobacter incidence remained stable or decreased for all groups analyzed since 2012. Among 2449 linked records in 2017–2018, the median patient age was 40.2 years (interquartile range, 21.6–57.8 years), 54.8% of patients were male, 17.2% were hospitalized, and 0.2% died. The percentage of resistant infections increased from 24.5% in 2005–2016 to 29.7% in 2017–2018 for ciprofloxacin (P <.001) and from 2.6% to 3.3% for erythromycin (P =.04). Persons with recent international travel had higher odds than nontravelers of having isolates resistant to ciprofloxacin (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] varied from 1.7 to 10.6 by race/ethnicity) and erythromycin (aOR = 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.3–2.1). Conclusions Campylobacter incidence has remained stable or decreased, whereas resistance to antimicrobials recommended for treatment has increased. Recent international travel increased the risk of resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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7. Conflict, Consensus, and Gift Exchange: Reflections on Three Generous Reviews.
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Ford, Laura
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SOCIAL conflict , *SOCIAL theory , *SOCIAL change , *SOCIAL institutions , *SOCIAL problems , *SOCIOLOGICAL jurisprudence - Abstract
This essay responds to three reviews of my book (The Intellectual Property of Nations), by Damon Mayrl, Meredith Hall, and Danielle Lucksted & Nicholas Hoover Wilson. In responding to these reviews I reflect on the extent to which reviews are intellectual gifts, stimulating new lines of inquiry. Building from fruitful suggestions in the reviews by Mayrl and Hall, and linking these to new sites of interest for me in the U.S. legal tradition, I trace the extent to which early forms of U.S. sociology were embedded in an extended series of "restatements" of U.S. common law, focusing particularly on the "sociological jurisprudence" of Roscoe Pound. Responding to Lucksted & Wilson's proposal for a Bourdieusian counter-narrative to the one I offered in my book, I very briefly sketch my reasons for preferring a Weberian approach. Lucksted & Wilson claim that my approach is consensualist, but I argue that the more important difference is over the ways that sociological theories account (or not) for human purposiveness in law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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8. Salmonella Outbreaks Associated with Not Ready-to-Eat Breaded, Stuffed Chicken Products -- United States, 1998-2022.
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Ford, Laura, Buuck, Sean, Eisenstein, Taylor, Cote, Andrea, McCormic, Zachary D., Kremer-Caldwell, Selena, Kissler, Bonnie, Forstner, Matthew, Sorenson, Alida, Wise, Matthew E., Smith, Kirk, Medus, Carlota, Griffin, Patricia M., and Robyn, Misha
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CHICKENS , *FOODBORNE diseases , *SICK people , *SAMPLING (Process) - Abstract
The article presents the discussion on Not ready-to-eat (NRTE) breaded stuffed chicken products. Topics include CDC's Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System (FDOSS), outbreak questionnaires, web postings, and data from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH); and questionnaires administered to ill persons, web postings, product recall information, product sampling results, and data from MDH and FSIS.
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- 2023
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9. Test-to-Stay Implementation in 4 Pre-K-12 School Districts.
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Lammie, Samantha L., Ford, Laura, Swanson, Megan, Guinn, Angie S., Kamitani, Emiko, van Zyl, André, Rose, Charles E., Marynak, Kristy, Shields, Jamila, Donovan, Catherine V., Holman, Emily J., Mark-Carew, Miguella, Welton, Michael, Thomas, Ebony S., and Neatherlin, John C.
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PREVENTION of infectious disease transmission , *SCHOOL health services , *EVALUATION of human services programs , *HEALTH services accessibility , *QUARANTINE , *LEARNING strategies , *RISK assessment , *HUMAN services programs , *INFECTIOUS disease transmission , *RESEARCH funding , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *COMMUNICATION , *HEALTH , *INFORMATION resources , *COVID-19 testing , *COVID-19 pandemic , *DISEASE risk factors - Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Globally, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected how children learn. We evaluated the impact of Test to Stay (TTS) on secondary and tertiary transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and potential impact on in-person learning in 4 school districts in the United States from September 13 to November 19, 2021. METHODS: Implementation of TTS varied across school districts. Data on index cases, schoolbased close contacts, TTS participation, and testing results were obtained from 4 school districts in diverse geographic regions. Descriptive statistics, secondary and tertiary attack risk, and a theoretical estimate of impact on in-person learning were calculated. RESULTS: Fifty-one schools in 4 school districts reported 374 coronavirus disease COVID-19 index cases and 2520 school-based close contacts eligible for TTS. The proportion participating in TTS ranged from 22% to 79%. By district, the secondary attack risk and tertiary attack risk among TTS participants ranged between 2.2% to 11.1% and 0% to 17.6%, respectively. Nine clusters were identified among secondary cases and 2 among tertiary cases. The theoretical maximum number of days of in-person learning saved by using TTS was 976 to 4650 days across jurisdictions. CONCLUSIONS: TTS preserves in-person learning. Decisions to participate in TTS may have been influenced by ease of access to testing, communication between schools and families, testing logistics, and school resources. Tertiary attack risk determination became more complicated when numbers of close contacts increased. Minimizing exposure through continued layered prevention strategies is imperative. To ensure adequate resources for TTS, community transmission levels should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2022
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10. How We Teach: Material and Energy Balances.
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Ford, Laura, Brennan, Janie, Dahm, Kevin D., Silverstein, David, Landherr, Lucas James, West, Christy Wheeler, Cole, Jennifer, and Vaughen, Bruce
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CHEMICAL engineering education , *CURRICULUM planning , *STUDENT engagement , *UNIVERSITIES & colleges , *ENGINEERING education - Abstract
The Curriculum Committee of AIChE's Education Division surveyed chemical engineering departments across the United States and Canada in Fall 2021 about material and energy balances (MEB) courses. Courses have been described by 84 faculty at 75 institutions. MEB is taught primarily to first-term sophomores (78% of schools) majoring in only chemical engineering (46% of schools). Over 70% of the schools require only one MEB course, and 24% require two courses. All schools require general chemistry as a prerequisite, with half requiring Calculus II (integrals). Faculty do not expect incoming MEB students to be experienced or proficient in any software packages, but they are expected to be at least novices in word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software. Over 40% of schools expect at least novicelevel understanding of computerized algebra systems, primarily MATLAB. Schools provide students with computer labs, with almost 60% of schools maintaining the labs at the college level. Exams and homework are the most popular assessments, appearing in over 90% of courses. Over half of the courses also have pre-announced quizzes, and team homework is used in 45% of the courses. In a majority of the courses (67%), twenty percent or fewer of the assignments are completed with a computer. The Felder, Rousseau, and Bullard textbook is used in nearly 80% of the courses. Textbook topics through energy balances on reactive systems are covered in over 70% of courses. Only the topics of computer-aided balance calculations and transient balances receive low coverage, in under 50% of the courses. Second courses in MEB tend to emphasize energy balances. In professional skills, only formal problem-solving strategies are covered in over half of the courses. Lecture section sizes are 40 students or smaller for over half of the reporting courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2022
11. RETINAL DETACHMENT: ACHIEVING THE BEST OUTCOME WITH POSTURING.
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Ford, Laura, Orr, Gavin, and Zaman, Anwar
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RETINAL surgery , *PROLIFERATIVE vitreoretinopathy , *RETINAL detachment , *RETINAL vein occlusion , *POSTURE - Published
- 2022
12. Antigen Test Performance Among Children and Adults at a SARS-CoV-2 Community Testing Site.
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Ford, Laura, Whaley, Melissa J, Shah, Melisa M, Salvatore, Phillip P, Segaloff, Hannah E, Delaney, Augustina, Currie, Dustin W, Boyle-Estheimer, Lauren, O'Hegarty, Michelle, Morgan, Clint N, Meece, Jennifer, Ivacic, Lynn, Thornburg, Natalie J, Tamin, Azaibi, Harcourt, Jennifer L, Folster, Jennifer M, Medrzycki, Magdalena, Jain, Shilpi, Wong, Phili, and Goffard, Kimberly
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REVERSE transcriptase polymerase chain reaction , *COVID-19 , *SARS-CoV-2 , *PREDICTIVE tests , *POINT-of-care testing , *CULTURES (Biology) , *PUBLIC health , *PEDIATRICS , *HEALTH outcome assessment , *DISEASE prevalence , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *COVID-19 testing , *POLYMERASE chain reaction - Abstract
Background Performance characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests among children are limited despite the need for point-of-care testing in school and childcare settings. We describe children seeking SARS-CoV-2 testing at a community site and compare antigen test performance to real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and viral culture. Methods Two anterior nasal specimens were self-collected for BinaxNOW antigen and RT-PCR testing, along with demographics, symptoms, and exposure information from individuals ≥5 years at a community testing site. Viral culture was attempted on residual antigen or RT-PCR-positive specimens. Demographic and clinical characteristics, and the performance of SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests, were compared among children (<18 years) and adults. Results About 1 in 10 included specimens were from children (225/2110); 16.4% (37/225) were RT-PCR-positive. Cycle threshold values were similar among RT-PCR-positive specimens from children and adults (22.5 vs 21.3, P =.46) and among specimens from symptomatic and asymptomatic children (22.5 vs 23.2, P =.39). Sensitivity of antigen test compared to RT-PCR was 73.0% (27/37) among specimens from children and 80.8% (240/297) among specimens from adults; among specimens from children, specificity was 100% (188/188), positive and negative predictive values were 100% (27/27) and 94.9% (188/198), respectively. Virus was isolated from 51.4% (19/37) of RT-PCR-positive pediatric specimens; all 19 had positive antigen test results. Conclusions With lower sensitivity relative to RT-PCR, antigen tests may not diagnose all positive COVID-19 cases; however, antigen testing identified children with live SARS-CoV-2 virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2021
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13. Association of Shared Living Spaces and COVID-19 in University Students, Wisconsin, USA, 2020.
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Bigouette, John Paul, Ford, Laura, Segaloff, Hannah E., Langolf, Kimberly, Kahrs, Juliana, Zochert, Tara, Tate, Jacqueline E., Gieryn, Douglas, Kirking, Hannah L., Westergaard, Ryan P., and Killerby, Marie E.
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COVID-19 , *COLLEGE students , *LIVING alone , *COVID-19 testing - Abstract
We describe characteristics associated with having coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among students residing on a university campus. Of 2,187 students, 528 (24.1%) received a COVID-19 diagnosis during fall semester 2020. Students sharing a bedroom or suite had approximately twice the odds of contracting COVID-19 as those living alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2021
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14. Application of a Serial Antigen-Based Testing Strategy for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 and Student Adherence in a University Setting: Wisconsin, October–November 2020.
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Bigouette, John Paul, Ford, Laura, Pray, Ian, Langolf, Kimberly, Kahrs, Juliana, Zochert, Tara, Tate, Jacqueline E, Gieryn, Douglas, Kirking, Hannah L, Westergaard, Ryan, and Killerby, Marie E
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COVID-19 , *POLYMERASE chain reaction , *REVERSE transcriptase polymerase chain reaction , *UNIVERSITIES & colleges , *COLLEGE students - Abstract
Background Serial severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing has been implemented at institutions of higher education (IHEs) and other settings. Testing strategies can include algorithms specifying confirmatory reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing after an antigen test. It is unknown how testing strategies perform detecting SARS-CoV-2, including individual adherence to serial testing requirements. Methods Student serial testing adherence was defined as completing ≥80% of weekly tests from October 5, 2020 to November 14, 2020 and evaluated using logistic regression. Medical records were reviewed for all positive antigen test encounters and 10% of daily negative antigen test encounters during October 19–November 30, 2020. Results were used to estimate the proportion of individuals requiring only antigen tests, requiring and completing RT-PCR testing, and associated costs of tests. Results Two thirds (66.5%; 1166 of 1754) of eligible on-campus students adhered to weekly testing; female students were more adherent (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.66–2.59) than male students. Of all antigen test encounters, 11.5% (1409 of 12 305) reported >1 COVID-19 symptoms. Of non-COVID-19-exposed antigen test encounters, 88% (10 386 of 11 769) did not require confirmatory RT-PCR testing. Only 28% (390 of 1387) of testing encounters had an associated recommended confirmatory RT-PCR test performed. We estimated the testing strategy captured 61% (235 of 389) of predicted RT-PCR-positive specimens. Conclusions At this IHE, most students voluntarily adhered to serial testing. The majority of antigen test results did not require confirmatory RT-PCR testing, but when required, most students did not obtain it. Including strategies to increase the proportion of individuals obtaining indicated confirmatory testing might improve the testing program's performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2021
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15. Epidemiologic Characteristics Associated With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Antigen-Based Test Results, Real-Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) Cycle Threshold Values, Subgenomic RNA, and Viral Culture Results From University Testing
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Ford, Laura, Lee, Christine, Pray, Ian W, Cole, Devlin, Bigouette, John Paul, Abedi, Glen R, Bushman, Dena, Delahoy, Miranda J, Currie, Dustin W, Cherney, Blake, Kirby, Marie K, Fajardo, Geroncio C, Caudill, Motria, Langolf, Kimberly, Kahrs, Juliana, Zochert, Tara, Kelly, Patrick, Pitts, Collin, Lim, Ailam, and Aulik, Nicole
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CONFIDENCE intervals , *LOGISTIC regression analysis , *ODDS ratio , *COVID-19 pandemic , *ANTIGENS - Abstract
Background Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) and antigen tests are important diagnostics for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Sensitivity of antigen tests has been shown to be lower than that of rRT-PCR; however, data to evaluate epidemiologic characteristics that affect test performance are limited. Methods Paired mid-turbinate nasal swabs were collected from university students and staff and tested for SARS-CoV-2 using both Quidel Sofia SARS Antigen Fluorescent Immunoassay (FIA) and rRT-PCR assay. Specimens positive by either rRT-PCR or antigen FIA were placed in viral culture and tested for subgenomic RNA (sgRNA). Logistic regression models were used to evaluate characteristics associated with antigen results, rRT-PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values, sgRNA, and viral culture. Results Antigen FIA sensitivity was 78.9% and 43.8% among symptomatic and asymptomatic participants, respectively. Among rRT-PCR positive participants, negative antigen results were more likely among asymptomatic participants (odds ratio [OR] 4.6, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3–15.4) and less likely among participants reporting nasal congestion (OR 0.1, 95% CI:.03–.8). rRT-PCR-positive specimens with higher Ct values (OR 0.5, 95% CI:.4–.8) were less likely, and specimens positive for sgRNA (OR 10.2, 95% CI: 1.6–65.0) more likely, to yield positive virus isolation. Antigen testing was >90% positive in specimens with Ct values < 29. Positive predictive value of antigen test for positive viral culture (57.7%) was similar to that of rRT-PCR (59.3%). Conclusions SARS-CoV-2 antigen test advantages include low cost, wide availability and rapid turnaround time, making them important screening tests. The performance of antigen tests may vary with patient characteristics, so performance characteristics should be accounted for when designing testing strategies and interpreting results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2021
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16. The Future of Sociology's History: New Voices in the History of Sociology.
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Ford, Laura and Niebrugge-Brantley, Gillian
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HISTORY of sociology , *ANNUAL meetings , *SOCIOLOGY , *SCHOLARS , *SOCIOLOGISTS - Abstract
The article discusses the New Voices Initiative for the history of sociology in the U.S. that was formulated during the 2019 American Sociological Association (ASA) Annual Meeting in New York. Topics include the relevance of the history of sociology discipline to academic sociology, the views of early career scholars about the history of sociology as a risky proposition for significant intellectual investment, and an overview of the conception of the New Voices Initiative. Also discussed are the opportunities and needs surrounding sociology's history.
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- 2021
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17. Cost of whole genome sequencing for non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica.
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Ford, Laura, Glass, Kathryn, Williamson, Deborah A., Sintchenko, Vitali, Robson, Jennifer M. B., Lancsar, Emily, Stafford, Russell, and Kirk, Martyn D.
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SALMONELLA enterica , *POLYMERASE chain reaction - Abstract
Background: While whole genome sequencing (WGS) may be more expensive than traditional testing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), simple cost comparisons ignore the potential for WGS to reduce the societal costs of non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica through public health action to prevent illness. Methods: We determined how many cases the use of WGS data would need to prevent to be cost-equal to serotyping and MLVA, or culture independent testing based on PCR in Australia. We then examined the costs and cost-savings of current typing methods compared with WGS in outbreak scenarios. Results: A median of 275 (90% CrI -55-775) or 1.9% (90% CrI -0.4%-5.4%) of notified serotyped Salmonella cases would need to be prevented for WGS to be cost-equal to current typing methods and 1,550 (90% CrI 820–2,725) or 9.6% of all notified Salmonella cases would need to be prevented to be cost-equal to PCR. WGS is likely to result in cost savings in prolonged outbreaks, where data can support earlier public health action. Conclusions: Despite currently having a higher cost per isolate, routine WGS of Salmonella was no more expensive than existing typing methods or PCR where >2% of illness was averted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2021
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18. Performance of an Antigen-Based Test for Asymptomatic and Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Testing at Two University Campuses - Wisconsin, September-October 2020.
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Pray, Ian W., Ford, Laura, Cole, Devlin, Lee, Christine, Bigouette, John Paul, Abedi, Glen R., Bushman, Dena, Delahoy, Miranda J., Currie, Dustin, Cherney, Blake, Kirby, Marie, Fajardo, Geroncio, Caudill, Motria, Langolf, Kimberly, Kahrs, Juliana, Kelly, Patrick, Pitts, Collin, Lim, Ailam, Aulik, Nicole, and Tamin, Azaibi
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COVID-19 , *NUCLEIC acid amplification techniques , *SARS-CoV-2 , *COLLEGE campuses - Abstract
Antigen-based tests for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), are inexpensive and can return results within 15 minutes (1). Antigen tests have received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for use in asymptomatic and symptomatic persons within the first 5-12 days after symptom onset (2). These tests have been used at U.S. colleges and universities and other congregate settings (e.g., nursing homes and correctional and detention facilities), where serial testing of asymptomatic persons might facilitate early case identification (3-5). However, test performance data from symptomatic and asymptomatic persons are limited. This investigation evaluated performance of the Sofia SARS Antigen Fluorescent Immunoassay (FIA) (Quidel Corporation) compared with real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2 detection among asymptomatic and symptomatic persons at two universities in Wisconsin. During September 28-October 9, a total of 1,098 paired nasal swabs were tested using the Sofia SARS Antigen FIA and real-time RT-PCR. Virus culture was attempted on all antigen-positive or real-time RT-PCR-positive specimens. Among 871 (79%) paired swabs from asymptomatic participants, the antigen test sensitivity was 41.2%, specificity was 98.4%, and in this population the estimated positive predictive value (PPV) was 33.3%, and negative predictive value (NPV) was 98.8%. Antigen test performance was improved among 227 (21%) paired swabs from participants who reported one or more symptoms at specimen collection (sensitivity = 80.0%; specificity = 98.9%; PPV = 94.1%; NPV = 95.9%). Virus was isolated from 34 (46.6%) of 73 antigen-positive or real-time RT-PCR-positive nasal swab specimens, including two of 18 that were antigen-negative and real-time RT-PCR-positive (false-negatives). The advantages of antigen tests such as low cost and rapid turnaround might allow for rapid identification of infectious persons. However, these advantages need to be balanced against lower sensitivity and lower PPV, especially among asymptomatic persons. Confirmatory testing with an FDA-authorized nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), such as RT-PCR, should be considered after negative antigen test results in symptomatic persons, and after positive antigen test results in asymptomatic persons (1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2021
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19. Cost of Salmonella Infections in Australia, 2015.
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FORD, LAURA, HAYWOOD, PHILIP, KIRK, MARTYN D., LANCSAR, EMILY, WILLIAMSON, DEBORAH A., and GLASS, KATHRYN
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SALMONELLA diseases , *MONTE Carlo method , *INFECTIOUS arthritis , *IRRITABLE colon , *OVERHEAD costs - Abstract
Gastroenteritis caused from infections with Salmonella enterica (salmonellosis) causes significant morbidity in Australia. In addition to acute gastroenteritis, approximately 8.8% of people develop irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and 8.5% of people develop reactive arthritis (ReA). We estimated the economic cost of salmonellosis and associated sequel illnesses in Australia in a typical year circa 2015. We estimated incidence, hospitalizations, other health care usage, absenteeism, and premature mortality for four age groups using a variety of complementary data sets. We calculated direct costs (health care) and indirect costs (lost productivity and premature mortality) by using Monte Carlo simulation to estimate 90% credible intervals (CrI) around our point estimates. We estimated that 90,833 cases, 4,312 hospitalizations, and 19 deaths occurred from salmonellosis in Australia circa 2015 at a direct cost of AUD 23.8 million (90% CrI, 19.3 to 28.9 million) and a total cost of AUD 124.4 million (90% CrI, 107.4 to 143.1 million). When IBS and ReA were included, the estimated direct cost was 35.7 million (90% CrI, 29.9 to 42.7 million) and the total cost was AUD 146.8 million (90% CrI, 127.8 to 167.9 million). Foodborne infections were responsible for AUD 88.9 million (90% CrI, 63.9 to 112.4 million) from acute salmonellosis and AUD 104.8 million (90% CrI, 75.5 to 132.3 million) when IBS and ReA were included. Targeted interventions to prevent illness could considerably reduce costs and societal impact from Salmonella infections and sequel illnesses in Australia. The rate of salmonellosis in Australia is high, but the costs have not previously been assessed. Salmonellosis illness and sequelae cost Australia AUD 146.8 million circa 2015. Foodborne Salmonella infections and sequelae cost AUD 104.8 million. Quantifying costs helps prioritize interventions across the food chain to reduce societal impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
20. Whole-Genome Sequencing of Salmonella Mississippi and Typhimurium Definitive Type 160, Australia and New Zealand.
- Author
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Ford, Laura, Ingle, Danielle, Glass, Kathryn, Veitch, Mark, Williamson, Deborah A., Harlock, Michelle, Gregory, Joy, Stafford, Russell, French, Nigel, Bloomfield, Samuel, Zoe Grange, Conway, Mary Lou, Kirk, Martyn D., and Grange, Zoe
- Subjects
- *
SALMONELLA typhimurium , *SALMONELLA enterica , *BIRDS , *SALMONELLA , *RESERVOIRS - Abstract
We used phylogenomic and risk factor data on isolates of Salmonella enterica serovars Mississippi and Typhimurium definitive type 160 (DT160) collected from human, animal, and environmental sources to elucidate their epidemiology and disease reservoirs in Australia and New Zealand. Sequence data suggested wild birds as a likely reservoir for DT160; animal and environmental sources varied more for Salmonella Mississippi than for Salmonella Typhimurium. Australia and New Zealand isolates sat in distinct clades for both serovars; the median single-nucleotide polymorphism distance for DT160 was 29 (range 8-66) and for Salmonella Mississippi, 619 (range 565-737). Phylogenomic data identified plausible sources of human infection from wildlife and environmental reservoirs and provided evidence supporting New Zealand-acquired DT160 in a group of travelers returning to Australia. Wider use of real-time whole-genome sequencing in new locations and for other serovars may identify sources and routes of transmission, thereby aiding prevention and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
21. Judicial Social Theorizing and Its Relation to Sociology.
- Author
-
Owens, Boyce Robert and Ford, Laura
- Subjects
- *
SOCIAL theory , *SOCIOLOGY , *SOCIAL groups , *UNITED States appellate courts , *POLITICAL attitudes - Abstract
The scope and structure of social theory are often analyzed as part of or preamble to theorizing proper. This paper takes an indirect approach to the metatheoretical question, "what does social theory look like in terms of scope and structure?" by analyzing a form of social theory that sociologists tend not to think of as social theory: namely, judge-made law produced in Federal appellate courts. We argue that judges engage in social theorizing on a routine basis, and that they arrive at some of their theoretical claims through a process of theorizing that has features in common with sociological theorizing. The social theorizing of judges holds up a mirror to our own. By recognizing and examining judicial social theorizing as a form of structured, social theorizing, we aim to facilitate a clearer understanding of the social conditions enabling (and constraining) the production of social theory within sociology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
22. Radiant Futures.
- Author
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Ford, Laura Grace
- Subjects
- *
URBAN planning , *PUBLIC spaces , *CITIES & towns , *STREETS , *WALKING - Abstract
This text is based on drifts through Glasgow and the new town of Cumbernauld. Memories, desires and stories of homes and streets surface through urban wanders on foot. In the wake of demolition and displacement, urban space is experienced as a terrain of loss, dreaming, contestation and possibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
23. Intellectual property and industrialization: legalizing hope in economic growth.
- Author
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Ford, Laura
- Subjects
- *
INTELLECTUAL property , *INDUSTRIALIZATION , *ECONOMIC sociology , *SOCIOLOGY , *SOCIOECONOMICS - Abstract
This article draws on theoretical resources from economic sociology and sociology of law to intervene in economic debates about the relationship between intellectual property and industrialization. Utilizing historical evidence from the earliest period of American intellectual property law and from a formative company in the New England textile industry, I propose a social process of influence that connects intellectual property law to industrialization. I argue that, consistent with the findings of New Economic Sociology, social relationship structures and social capital are the proximate influential force in industrialization. However, I also argue that transformative changes in those social relationship structures are rooted in the emergence of a particular type of political culture: what I call here, borrowing from Hannah Arendt and Frank Dobbin, a 'Natal-Industrial Culture.' A Natal-Industrial Culture, as I propose it here, is a political culture in which collective hopes for the future are placed in new technologies and new cultural products, as means for achieving economic growth. Intellectual property law contributed to the emergence of this new type of political culture by holding out the promise of property, as a reward for the provision of new technologies or new cultural products. Because of the way that hope works on motivation-through cognitive pre-rehearsals of future attainment, which involve semantically-meaningful propositions and contribute to positive emotional experience-the promise of property provided a powerful stimulant to social capital formation. Working through the semantic resonances of property, intellectual property law contributed to a political culture in which invention and creativity were expected to secure a future of growth within the political community, both for particular members and for the political community, as a whole. By fostering a Natal-Industrial Culture, intellectual property law contributed to systematic invention and social capital-formation, leading, in turn, to the transformative changes in working and material provisioning that constitute industrialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
24. Increasing Incidence of Salmonella in Australia, 2000-2013.
- Author
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Ford, Laura, Glass, Kathryn, Veitch, Mark, Wardell, Rebecca, Polkinghorne, Ben, Dobbins, Timothy, Lal, Aparna, and Kirk, Martyn D.
- Subjects
- *
SALMONELLA detection , *SALMONELLA typhimurium , *GASTROENTERITIS , *FOODBORNE diseases , *DISEASE incidence , *SEX factors in disease , *AGE factors in disease - Abstract
Salmonella is a key cause of foodborne gastroenteritis in Australia and case numbers are increasing. We used negative binomial regression to analyze national surveillance data for 2000–2013, for Salmonella Typhimurium and non-Typhimurium Salmonella serovars. We estimated incidence rate ratios adjusted for sex and age to show trends over time. Almost all states and territories had significantly increasing trends of reported infection for S. Typhimurium, with states and territories reporting annual increases as high as 12% (95% confidence interval 10–14%) for S. Typhimurium in the Australian Capital Territory and 6% (95% CI 5–7%) for non-Typhimurium Salmonella in Victoria. S. Typhimurium notification rates were higher than non-Typhimurium Salmonella rates in most age groups in the south eastern states of Australia, while non-Typhimurium rates were higher in most age groups elsewhere. The S. Typhimurium notification rate peaked at 12–23 months of age and the non-Typhimurium Salmonella notification rate peaked at 0–11 months of age. The age-specific pattern of S. Typhimurium cases suggests a foodborne origin, while the age and geographic pattern for non-Typhimurium may indicate that other transmission routes play a key role for these serovars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
25. Using an Article in a Sophomore Engineering Science Class to Boost Life-long Learning Confidence.
- Author
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Ford, Laura P.
- Subjects
- *
ENGINEERING education , *ENGINEERING students , *LEARNING , *CHEMICAL engineering , *TECHNOLOGY education - Abstract
Sophomore-level engineering classes often do not require students to find properties or processes in the literature, as advanced engineering courses do. Using the literature to find information is often considered part of fulfilling ABET outcome i: a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in, lifelong learning. The design project in a sophomore-level course was based on an article in Chemical Engineering Progress, and students were surveyed about confidence in ability to understand similar articles before, during, and after completing the design project. Optimizing an Organic Rankine Cycle by Bourji and Winstead (CEP, January 2013, 35-39) covers a basic Rankine cycle and a Rankine cycle with a form of regeneration, which are both covered in introductory thermodynamics courses. Students who understand the course material should understand the thermodynamics of the paper. The participants read the article and answered a questionnaire three times during the semester: before Rankine cycles had been covered in class, just after the homework assignment on Rankine cycles with regeneration was due, and just after the project based on the article was due. The questionnaire asked about understanding the article, ability to follow the thermodynamic modifications of the article, and ability to reproduce the thermodynamic calculations of the article. All three of these improved as the students learned the material in the course and worked with it through homework and the design project. Confidences in ability to understand engineering principles and to reproduce calculations of similar articles also improved during the study and were probed with separate questions. This study showed that lifelong learning can be encouraged in lower-level courses with the appropriate selection of articles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
26. Analysis of a Small Gamification Addition to Labs.
- Author
-
Luks, Christi L. Patton and Ford, Laura P.
- Subjects
- *
GAMIFICATION , *CHEMICAL engineering , *LABORATORIES , *SEMESTER system in education , *GRADING of students - Abstract
One small gamification aspect was incorporated into senior chemical engineering labs. "Bragging Points" were awarded for certain things that the students should be doing in classes anyway, such as arriving on time and following instructions for reports. Bragging Points were awarded only to teams to encourage students to hold their teammates accountable. Approximately 70 Bragging Points were available during the course. Twenty Bragging Points could be converted to course grade points as extra credit on either individual exam grades or formal reports. Extra credit on multiple exams or reports was allowed, one for each block of 20 Bragging Points. A display board in the lab control room let students see which team was doing the best in the points race. Students themselves noticed that the teams with students with reputations for earning good grades also had the most Bragging Points. Anecdotally, students were on time to classes and meetings more when they received Bragging Points that in earlier semesters without them, and the faculty felt greater pressure to be on time to class, too! An analysis of the correlation of grades with Bragging Points earned and compliance with course expectations will be presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
27. Identification and evaluation of criterion measurement methods.
- Author
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Allen, Matthew, Russell, Teresa, Ford, Laura, Carretta, Thomas, Lee, Angela, and Kirkendall, Cristina
- Subjects
- *
NATIONAL competency-based educational tests , *RESEARCH methodology , *SELF-evaluation , *SIMULATION methods in education , *MILITARY service , *PSYCHOMETRICS , *INTRACLASS correlation , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *JOB performance ,RESEARCH evaluation - Abstract
Criterion measures vary greatly in terms of their psychometric quality and ease of use. This paper serves two purposes. First, it provides a general summary of different approaches to criterion measurement in a military context. Second, it provides an extensive review of 16 specific types of criterion measurement methods (e.g., job performance rating scales, self-report questionnaires, job knowledge tests) on nine psychometric and ease-of-use evaluation factors. Eight criterion measurement experts read a summary of extant research and made ratings to evaluate each measurement method on the evaluation factors. Rater intra-class correlations (ICCs) were high, ranging from.75 to.95 across the evaluation dimensions with a median of.91. Data showed a quality-feasibility tradeoff, where criterion data that are easy to obtain often have technical flaws. Recommendations for military services and future directions in criterion measurement (e.g., applications of machine learning) are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
28. Development of a performance taxonomy for entry-level military occupations.
- Author
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Russell, Teresa, Allen, Matthew, Ford, Laura, Carretta, Thomas, and Kirkendall, Cristina
- Subjects
- *
EMPLOYEE attitudes , *OCCUPATIONS , *HUMAN services programs , *JOB involvement , *QUALITATIVE research , *SURVEYS , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *RESEARCH funding , *JOB performance , *MILITARY personnel - Abstract
U.S. Military services use the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) and other indicators to select and classify about 150,000 enlisted personnel annually. The effectiveness of these assessments can be difficult to gauge due to differences in criteria across services and occupations. We developed a cross-service job performance model to be used in development of measures of first-term enlisted job performance. We synthesized job performance research, starting with the services' Job Performance Measurement (JPM) projects (1980s−1990s) through recent projects, to form performance dimensions. The dimension structure was evaluated in a retranslation exercise with performance measurement experts. The resulting hierarchical taxonomy has three levels: (a) 33 dimensions, (b) 11 categories, and (c) four broad categories. The broad performance categories are: (a) Technical, (b) Organizational Citizenship and Peer Leadership, (c) Psychosocial Well-Being, and (d) Physical. A sample of military experts judged the importance of the 33 performance dimensions. Results showed that the four broad performance categories were highly relevant to each service and generalizable across services. While all dimensions were judged important, Psychosocial Well-Being dimensions were rated as the most important by each service. The dimension structure provides a framework for criterion development and future joint-service research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
29. Using a Journal Article with Sophomores to Increase Lifelong Learning Confidence.
- Author
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Ford, Laura P.
- Subjects
- *
ENGINEERING education , *THERMODYNAMICS education in universities & colleges - Abstract
The article describes the use of articles published in "Chemical Engineering Progress" in an Engineering Science Introduction to Thermodynamics course.
- Published
- 2014
30. Re-envisioning the History of Sociology: Reflections on a Symposium for Junior Historians of Sociology held at the New School for Social Research, August 10, 2013.
- Author
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Bare, Michael and Ford, Laura
- Subjects
- *
SOCIOLOGY conferences , *SCHOLARS , *DECISION making , *PUBLISHED articles , *SOCIAL change , *CONFERENCE attendance , *SOCIOLOGY education , *CONFERENCES & conventions - Abstract
The article offers information on the intellectual benefits and lessons learned from a symposium for junior sociology scholars, sponsored by sponsored by the History of Sociology (HoS) Section of the American Sociological Association (ASA), at the New School for Social Research on August 10, 2013. Among the lessons learned are the need for long-term perspective in decision making, little money for food, and flexibility in the exclusion and inclusion of criteria for participation. Information on papers submitted for the symposium, including on sociology, social change, and the work of sociologist W. I. Thomas, is also presented.
- Published
- 2015
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
31. Sequelae of Foodborne Illness Caused by 5 Pathogens, Australia, Circa 2010.
- Author
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Ford, Laura, Kirk, Martyn, Glass, Kathryn, and Hall, Gillian
- Subjects
- *
FOODBORNE diseases , *GASTROENTERITIS , *GUILLAIN-Barre syndrome , *IRRITABLE colon , *CAMPYLOBACTER infections , *DISEASE complications - Abstract
In Australia circa 2010, 4.1 million (90% credible interval [CrI] 2.3-6.4 million) episodes of foodborne gastroenteritis occurred, many of which might have resulted in sequelae. We estimated the number of illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths from Guillain-Barré syndrome, hemolytic uremic syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and reactive arthritis that were associated with contaminated food in Australia. Data from published studies, hospital records, and mortality reports were combined with multipliers to adjust for different transmission routes. We used Monte Carlo simulation to estimate median estimates and 90% CrIs. In Australia, circa 2010, we estimated that 35,840 (90% CrI 25,000-54,000) illnesses, 1,080 (90% CrI 700-1,600) hospitalizations, and 10 (90% CrI 5-14) deaths occurred from foodborne gastroenteritis- associated sequelae. Campylobacter spp. infection was responsible for 80% of incident cases. Reducing the incidence of campylobacteriosis and other foodborne diseases would minimize the health effects of sequelae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
32. Foodborne Illness, Australia, Circa 2000 and Circa 2010.
- Author
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Kirk, Martyn, Ford, Laura, Glass, Kathryn, and Hall, Gillian
- Subjects
- *
FOODBORNE diseases , *PUBLIC health , *GASTROENTERITIS , *FOOD contamination , *CAUSES of death , *SALMONELLA diseases , *PUBLIC health research - Abstract
Foodborne disease is a major public health problem worldwide. To examine changes in foodborne illness in Australia, we estimated the incidence, hospitalizations, and deaths attributed to contaminated food circa 2010 and recalculated estimates from circa 2000. Approximately 25% of gastroenteritis cases were caused by contaminated food; to account for uncertainty we used simulation techniques to estimate 90% credible intervals. We estimate that circa 2010, 4.1 million foodborne gastroenteritis cases occurred, and circa 2000, 4.3 million cases occurred. Circa 2010, contaminated food was estimated to be responsible for 30,840 gastroenteritis-associated hospitalizations, 76 associated deaths, and 5,140 nongastrointestinal illnesses. Cases of salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis increased from 2000 to 2010 and were the leading causes of gastroenteritis-associated hospitalizations; Listeria monocytogenes and nontyphoidal Salmonella spp. infections were the leading causes of death. Although the overall incidence of foodborne illnesses declined over time in Australia, cases of foodborne gastroenteritis are still common. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
33. Characterization of Conventional and Atypical Receptors for the Chemokine CCL2 on Mouse Leukocytes.
- Author
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Ford, Laura B., Cerovic, Vuk, Milling, Simon W. F., Graham, Gerard J., Hansell, Chris A. H., and Nibbs, Robert J. B.
- Subjects
- *
CHEMOKINE receptors , *CHEMOKINE genetics , *CHEMOTACTIC factors , *LEUCOCYTES , *FLUORESCENT antibody technique , *PHYSIOLOGY - Abstract
Chemokine-directed leukocyte migration is crucial for effective immune and inflammatory responses. Conventional chemokine receptors (cCKRs) directly control cell movement; atypical chemokine receptors (ACKRs) regulate coexpressed cCKRs; and both cCKRs and ACKRs internalize chemokines to limit their abundance in vivo, a process referred to as scavenging. A leukocyte's migratory and chemokine-scavenging potential is determined by which cCKRs and ACKRs it expresses, and by the ligand specificity, signaling properties, and chemokine internalization capacity of these receptors. Most chemokines can bind at least one cCKR and one ACKR. CCL2 can bind to CCR2 (a cCKR) and two ACKRs (ACKR1 and ACKR2). In this study, by using fluorescent CCL2 uptake to label cells bearing functional CCL2 receptors, we have defined the expression profile, scavenging activity, and ligand specificity of CCL2 receptors on mouse leukocytes. We show that qualitative and quantitative differences in the expression of CCR2 and ACKR2 endow individual leukocyte subsets with distinctive CCL2 receptor profiles and CCL2-scavenging capacities. We reveal that some cells, including plasmacytoid dendritic cells, can express both CCR2 and ACKR2; that Ly6Chigh monocytes have particularly strong CCL2-scavenging potential in vitro and in vivo; and that CCR2 is a much more effective CCL2 scavenger than ACKR2. We confirm the unique, overlapping, ligand specificities of CCR2 and ACKR2 and, unexpectedly, find that cell context influences the interaction of CCL7 and CCL12 with CCR2. Fluorescent chemokine uptake assays were instrumental in providing these novel insights into CCL2 receptor biology, and the sensitivity, specificity, and versatility of these assays are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
34. Semantic Ordering as an Organizing Force An Interpretation of Max Weber's Sociological Theory of Property.
- Author
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Ford, Laura R.
- Subjects
- *
SEMANTICS , *ORDER , *PROPERTY , *SOCIAL theory , *INTELLECTUAL property , *SOCIAL facts ,SOCIAL aspects - Abstract
This article presents an interpretation of Max Weber's sociological theory of property, seeking to illustrate the contemporary relevance of that theory vis-à-vis the emergence and expansion of 'intellectual property' (patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets). The argument proceeds in three stages. First, I propose that property is, for Weber, a 'three-dimensional' social phenomenon: symbolic, structural, and material. Second, I propose a way of approaching Weber's concept of Ordnung as a 'semantic order', emphasizing the role of 'authoritative interpreters' of written 'traditions' in explicating the meaningful content of Ordnungen. Finally, by briefly comparing 'caste' and 'guild', I seek to illustrate how 'semantic ordering' activity can impact the organizational form of closed social relationships, and the understanding of appropriated 'objects'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
35. Recognizing Rhetoric in Sociological Theory: The Unmasking Style in Social Theory by Peter Baehr.
- Author
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Ford, Laura R.
- Subjects
- *
SOCIAL theory , *NONFICTION - Abstract
This essay sympathetically reviews Peter Baehr's welcome protest against the "unmasking style" of rhetoric in sociological theory, while expressing reservations about the alternative(s) Baehr appears to recommend. I briefly explore recognition, as an alternative rhetorical style, seeking a standpoint from which it might be possible to respond to valid and sincerely felt moral commitments in the unmasking style, while also leaving open possibilities for reconciliation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
36. Quantitative comparison of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification test and antigen testing algorithms: a decision analysis simulation model.
- Author
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Salvatore, Phillip P., Shah, Melisa M., Ford, Laura, Delaney, Augustina, Hsu, Christopher H., Tate, Jacqueline E., and Kirking, Hannah L.
- Subjects
- *
SARS-CoV-2 , *NUCLEIC acid amplification techniques , *ALGORITHMS , *PUBLIC health , *COVID-19 - Abstract
Background: Antigen tests for SARS-CoV-2 offer advantages over nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs, such as RT-PCR), including lower cost and rapid return of results, but show reduced sensitivity. Public health organizations recommend different strategies for utilizing NAATs and antigen tests. We sought to create a framework for the quantitative comparison of these recommended strategies based on their expected performance.Methods: We utilized a decision analysis approach to simulate the expected outcomes of six testing algorithms analogous to strategies recommended by public health organizations. Each algorithm was simulated 50,000 times in a population of 100,000 persons seeking testing. Primary outcomes were number of missed cases, number of false-positive diagnoses, and total test volumes. Outcome medians and 95% uncertainty ranges (URs) were reported.Results: Algorithms that use NAATs to confirm all negative antigen results minimized missed cases but required high NAAT capacity: 92,200 (95% UR: 91,200-93,200) tests (in addition to 100,000 antigen tests) at 10% prevalence. Selective use of NAATs to confirm antigen results when discordant with symptom status (e.g., symptomatic persons with negative antigen results) resulted in the most efficient use of NAATs, with 25 NAATs (95% UR: 13-57) needed to detect one additional case compared to exclusive use of antigen tests.Conclusions: No single SARS-CoV-2 testing algorithm is likely to be optimal across settings with different levels of prevalence and for all programmatic priorities. This analysis provides a framework for selecting setting-specific strategies to achieve acceptable balances and trade-offs between programmatic priorities and resource constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
37. Performance of Repeat BinaxNOW Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Antigen Testing in a Community Setting, Wisconsin, November 2020–December 2020.
- Author
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Shah, Melisa M, Salvatore, Phillip P, Ford, Laura, Kamitani, Emiko, Whaley, Melissa J, Mitchell, Kaitlin, Currie, Dustin W, Morgan, Clint N, Segaloff, Hannah E, Lecher, Shirley, Somers, Tarah, Dyke, Miriam E Van, Bigouette, John Paul, Delaney, Augustina, DaSilva, Juliana, O'Hegarty, Michelle, Boyle-Estheimer, Lauren, Abdirizak, Fatima, Karpathy, Sandor E, and Meece, Jennifer
- Subjects
- *
VIRAL antigens , *PREDICTIVE tests , *TIME , *MEDICAL screening , *COMMUNITIES , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *COVID-19 testing - Abstract
Repeating the BinaxNOW antigen test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 using 2 groups of readers within 30 minutes resulted in high concordance (98.9%) in 2110 encounters. Same-day repeat antigen testing did not significantly improve test sensitivity (77.2% to 81.4%) while specificity remained high (99.6%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
38. The relative price of healthy and less healthy foods available in Australian school canteens.
- Author
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Billich, Natassja, Adderley, Marijke, Ford, Laura, Keeton, Isabel, Palermo, Claire, Peeters, Anna, Woods, Julie, and Backholer, Kathryn
- Subjects
- *
SCHOOLS , *ELEMENTARY schools , *FOOD service , *HIGH schools , *LUNCHEONS , *NATURAL foods , *NUTRITION , *PUBLIC health , *STATISTICAL sampling , *SNACK foods , *T-test (Statistics) , *COST analysis , *ACQUISITION of data , *CROSS-sectional method , *DATA analysis software , *EVALUATION - Abstract
School canteens have an important role in modelling a healthy food environment. Price is a strong predictor of food and beverage choice. This study compared the relative price of healthy and less healthy lunch and snack items sold within Australian school canteens. A convenience sample of online canteen menus from five Australian states were selected (100 primary and 100 secondary schools). State-specific canteen guidelines were used to classify menu items into 'green' (eat most), 'amber' (select carefully) and 'red' (not recommended in schools). The price of the cheapest 'healthy' lunch (vegetable-based 'green') and snack ('green' fruit) item was compared to the cheapest 'less healthy' ('amber/red') lunch and snack item, respectively, using an un-paired t-test. The relative price of the 'healthy' items and the 'less healthy' items was calculated to determine the proportion of schools that sold the 'less healthy' item cheaper. The mean cost of the 'healthy' lunch items was greater than the 'less healthy' lunch items for both primary (AUD $0.70 greater) and secondary schools ($0.50 greater; p < 0.01). For 75% of primary and 57% of secondary schools, the selected 'less healthy' lunch item was cheaper than the 'healthy' lunch item. For 41% of primary and 48% of secondary schools, the selected 'less healthy' snack was cheaper than the 'healthy' snack. These proportions were greatest for primary schools located in more, compared to less, disadvantaged areas. The relative price of foods sold within Australian school canteens appears to favour less healthy foods. School canteen healthy food policies should consider the price of foods sold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
39. Development of cross-service training and job performance criterion measures for the U.S. Military.
- Author
-
Ellis, Brenda D., Russell, Teresa, Huber, Christopher R., Graves, Christopher R., and Ford, Laura A.
- Subjects
- *
MILITARY education , *EXPERIMENTAL design , *JUDGMENT (Psychology) , *RESEARCH methodology , *SELF-evaluation , *MILITARY service , *INTERDISCIPLINARY education , *JOB performance , *MILITARY personnel - Abstract
As part of an effort to provide standardized criterion measures across the Armed Services, the current research effort developed a set of service-wide criterion measures for first-term enlisted personnel using a recently developed model of cross-service job performance. Two concurrent work streams developed criterion measures which provide complete construct coverage of the cross-service performance model. Using existing service-specific instruments, methods for development of the Cross-Service Situational judgment Test (CSSJT), the Cross-Service Job Performance Ratings Scales (CSPRS), and two cross-service self-report measures (end of training and in unit surveys) are described and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
40. Preliminary Reflections and Assessment of the 2022 Chemical Engineering Summer School.
- Author
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Vigeant, Margot A., Anastasio, Daniel, Barankin, Michael David Mau, Bayles, Taryn Melkus, Burkey, Daniel D., Ford, Laura P., Gardner, Tracy Q., Koretsky, Milo, Lepek, Daniel, and Liberatore, Matthew W.
- Abstract
The ASEE/AIChE Chemical Engineering Summer School (ChESS) is a week-long, roughly quinquennial over the past nearly 100 years, faculty development event bringing together early-career and seasoned faculty for workshops and community building [1]. The most recent ChESS took place July 25-29, 2022 at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO, with around 160 participants and 80 presenters. The two core outcomes for the Summer School are 1) to build the Chemical Engineering education community and 2) to provide useful knowledge and tools for teaching, scholarship, and service for those early in their careers. A typical day at ChESS starts with breakfast and a plenary session, followed by one to two sessions with 5-6 parallel workshops, lunch, then two more parallel workshop sessions. These are complemented by thematic networking sessions, evening poster presentation receptions and a host of social events including a scavenger hunt. One afternoon of the week, local sightseeing and similar activities are available to all participants and presenters. Most workshops are delivered by volunteer presenters from the chemical engineering education community and about 20 are offered by industry and funding agency partners. Changes in programming for the most recent offering included specific identification of pedagogical, Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI), and content tracks for the parallel workshop sessions. To support this structure, plenary speakers were invited to present on pedagogical practices and DEI, in addition to the long-standing Teaching Institute and industry plenary. Workshops were either 90 or 150 minutes in length and typically hosted between 20-50 participants. While the core audience is newer faculty, the more experienced faculty who attend as workshop presenters are welcome to attend other workshops, space and time permitting, and about 90% of them did so. A survey conducted immediately after the close of ChESS 2022 showed respondents found it to be successful at meeting its two goals. 96% of respondents somewhat agreed or strongly agreed that the Summer School was conducive for meeting other Chemical Engineering faculty, while the same fraction somewhat agreed or strongly agreed that the workshops were useful. 93% of respondents strongly agreed that they would recommend the Summer School to a colleague, with a further 3% expressing some agreement. This paper shares details on the program, funding, and overall design of the Summer School as well as some reflections and recommendations from the steering committee. It also summarizes the results of the immediate post-Summer School survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
41. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COLORECTAL CANCER PATIENT'S PERCEPTION OF FEAR, HOPELESSNESS, AND ADHERENCE WITH ANTIDIARRHEA MEDICATIONS.
- Author
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Ford, Laura, Ferreira, Julie, Nunn, Yolonda, Savage, Michelle, Texas, Mary, and Lyons, Ann
- Subjects
- *
CANCER treatment complications , *DIARRHEA , *DEHYDRATION , *INTESTINAL diseases , *ANTINEOPLASTIC agents - Abstract
Cancer treatment-induced diarrhea can have devastating effects on patients, negatively impacting their physical, emotional, and psycho-social well-being. These issues can intensify over time, and result in non-compliance with prescribed medical regimes, and undesired therapeutic outcomes. Nonadherence of antidiarrhea medications can lead to complications such as excessive diarrhea, dehydration, weight loss, increased risk for infection, electrolyte imbalance, and may lead to cancer treatment modifications or delay treatment completion. The purpose was to examine the relationship between the perception of fear, hopelessness, and adherence with antidiarrhea medications in colorectal cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in an outpatient setting. The Lazarus Theory of Stress and Coping Model was used to guide this quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational, nonex-perimental study. The nonprobability sample (N =49) recruited from a local metropolitan outpatient oncology office consisted of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer, currently taking a prescribed or recommended anti-diarrhea medication and actively receiving cancer treatment. The Beck Hopelessness Scale, and the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) General Adherence Items Questionnaire were used to collect data in the study. In addition, a researcher developed global fear question and a twelve- item demographic questionnaire were utilized. SPSS Version 14.0. was used to analyze the data. Adherence to anti-diarrhea medications and hopelessness was not significant (r=.664; p=.663). A weak positive correlation was found between fear and adherence to antidiarrhea medications (r=.270; p=.064). Note the findings only approached significance due to the small sample size. Significance between adherence to antidiarrhea medications and demographics variables such as age (r=.359; p=.011), male versus female (t=2.38, df=46, p=.021), number of days experiencing loose stools versus high levels of hopelessness (r=.332; p=.020) and martial status (F(2,44)= 10.79, p>.001) were noted. The results of the study indicate the importance of examining the psychosocial dynamics involved in the medical treatment of colorectal cancer patients, specifically emotions. Information obtained from this may help healthcare professionals in educating colorectal cancer patients on the importance of adherence with prescribed anti-diarrhea medications, by providing appropriate interventions which may include emotional support, empathetic listening, and referrals to counselors and support groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2007
42. An Assessment of the Psychosocial Evaluation for Early Liver Transplantation in Patients With Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis in the Context of Alcohol Use Disorder, a Case-Control Study.
- Author
-
Dienstag, Aryeh, Dienstag, Penina, Mohan, Kanwal, Mirza, Omar, Schubert, Elizabeth, Ford, Laura, Edelman, Margot, Im, Gene, and Shenoy, Akhil
- Subjects
- *
DISEASE relapse , *ALCOHOLISM , *HEPATITIS , *CASE-control method , *RETROSPECTIVE studies , *COMPLICATIONS of alcoholism , *RISK assessment , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *LIVER transplantation , *ACUTE diseases - Abstract
Background: Severe acute alcoholic hepatitis (AAH) has an extremely poor prognosis with a high short term mortality rate. As a result, many centers, including our own, have allowed transplant patients to be listed for transplantation prior to achieving 6-months of sobriety. Several scoring systems, designed to target patients with a minimal period of sobriety, have been proposed to identify patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD), who would be predisposed to relapse after liver transplantation. We investigated whether these scoring systems corroborated the results of the non-structured selection criteria used by our center regarding decision to list for transplant. Methods: We conducted a retrospective case-control study of 11 patients who underwent early liver transplantation for AAH matched with 11 controls who were declined secondary to low insight into AUD. Blinded raters confirmed the severity of the diagnosis of DSM-5 and scored the patients on a variety of structured psychometric scales used to predict alcohol relapse. These included the High Risk for Alcohol Relapse Scale (HRAR), Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment Tool (SIPAT), Alcohol Relapse Risk Assessment (ARRA), Hopkins Psychosocial Scale (HPSS), Michigan Alcoholism Prognosis Score (MAPS), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test -Consumption (AUDIT-C), and Sustained Alcohol Use Post-Liver Transplant (SALT) scales. All patients who underwent transplantation were followed for harmful and non-harmful drinking until the end of the study period. Results: The transplant recipients had significantly favorable MAPS, HRAR, SIPAT, ARRA, and HPSS scores with cutoffs that matched their previous research. The SALT and AUDIT-C scores were not predictive of our selection of patients for transplantation. Despite an expedited evaluation and no significant period of sobriety, our case cohort had a 30% relapse to harmful drinking after an average of 6.6 years (5-8.5 years) of follow-up. Discussion: Despite the rapid assessment and the short to no period of sobriety, the patient cohort demonstrated a 30% relapse to harmful drinking, consistent with the 20% to 30% relapse to drinking rate reported after liver transplantation for all forms of alcoholic liver disease. Average scores from MAPS, HRAR, SIPAT, ARRA, and HPSS corroborated our current stratification procedures, with lower mean risk scores found in the transplanted group. Conclusion: Patients with AUD and severe AAH who obtain new insight into their disease and posses other favorable psychosocial factors have low rates of AUD relapse post-liver-transplantation. The psychosocial selection criteria for patients with alcoholic hepatitis in our institution are consistent with 4 of the 5 scoring systems investigated in their prediction of sobriety post-transplant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
43. Smokers Increasingly Motivated and Able to Quit as Smoking Prevalence Falls: Umbrella and Systematic Review of Evidence Relevant to the "Hardening Hypothesis," Considering Transcendence of Manufactured Doubt.
- Author
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Harris, Miranda, Martin, Melonie, Yazidjoglou, Amelia, Ford, Laura, Lucas, Robyn M, Newman, Eryn, and Banks, Emily
- Abstract
Introduction: The "hardening hypothesis" proposes that as the prevalence of smoking in a population declines, there will be a "hardening" of the remaining smoker population. This review examines the evidence regarding smokers' motivation, dependence, and quitting behavior as smoking prevalence declines, to assess whether population "hardening" (decreasing propensity to quit) or "softening" (the converse) is occurring.Methods: MEDLINE, PsychINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched to July 2019, using terms related to smoking and hardening, for reviews and large, population-based repeat cross-sectional studies. There were additional searches of reference lists and citations of key research articles. Two reviewers screened half the titles and abstracts each, and two reviewers screened full texts independently using tested criteria. Four reviewers independently and systematically extracted data from eligible publications, with one reviewer per study, checked by another reviewer.Results: Of 265 titles identified, three reviews and ten repeat cross-sectional studies were included. Reviews concluded that hardening has not occurred among the general smoking population over time. Among repeated cross-sectional studies, five examined motivation, nine examined dependence, five examined hardcore smoking, and two examined quit outcomes. All but one study found a lack of hardening. Most found softening within the smoking population, consistent across hardening indicators, definitions, countries (and tobacco control environments), and time periods examined.Conclusions: Tobacco control reduces smoking prevalence and fosters a smoking population more amenable to evidence-based interventions. Based on the weight of the available evidence, the "hardening hypothesis" should be rejected and the reality of softening accepted.Implications: This umbrella review and systematic review provides a critical consideration of evidence from epidemiology and psychology and other fields regarding the "hardening hypothesis"-a persistent myth undermining tobacco control. It reaches the conclusion that the sum-total of the worldwide evidence indicates either "softening" of the smoking population, or a lack of hardening. Hence, tobacco control reduces smoking prevalence and fosters a smoking population more amenable to evidence-based interventions. The review indicates that the time has come to take active steps to combat the myth of hardening and to replace it with the reality of "softening." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
44. Addressing inequities in healthy eating.
- Author
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Friel, Sharon, Hattersley, Libby, Ford, Laura, and O'Rourke, Kerryn
- Subjects
- *
FOOD habits , *HEALTH promotion , *INFORMATION storage & retrieval systems , *MEDICAL databases , *HEALTH policy , *NUTRITION education , *RESEARCH funding , *SYSTEMATIC reviews , *SOCIAL responsibility , *HEALTH equity - Abstract
What, when, where and how much people eat is influenced by a complex mix of factors at societal, community and individual levels. These influences operate both directly through the food system and indirectly through political, economic, social and cultural pathways that cause social stratification and influence the quality of conditions in which people live their lives. These factors are the social determinants of inequities in healthy eating. This paper provides an overview of the current evidence base for addressing these determinants and for the promotion of equity in healthy eating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
45. Promoting equity in the mental wellbeing of children and young people: a scoping review.
- Author
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Welsh, Jennifer, Strazdins, Lyndall, Ford, Laura, Friel, Sharon, O'Rourke, Kerryn, Carbone, Stephen, and Carlon, and Leanne
- Subjects
- *
HEALTH policy , *HEALTH promotion , *INFORMATION storage & retrieval systems , *MEDICAL databases , *PSYCHOLOGY information storage & retrieval systems , *MEDLINE , *MENTAL health , *RESEARCH funding , *SYSTEMATIC reviews , *WELL-being - Abstract
There is increasing emphasis on wellbeing as a target for mental health promotion, especially during the formative period of childhood. Despite growing research on the importance of mental wellbeing, there is little information on how to effectively promote it or how to promote it equitably. This article presents a scoping review of interventions which seek to promote mental wellbeing and reduce inequities in children and young people living in high income countries. We used Fair Foundations: The VicHealth framework for health equity (VicHealth (2013) Melbourne, Australia: The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation) to identify points of entry at three layers of influence: (i) socio-economic, cultural and political contexts, (ii) daily living conditions, and (iii) individual and family health-related factors. We identified more than 1000 interventions which aimed to prevent or treat childhood mental illness, but there were far fewer that aimed to promote children's or young people's mental wellbeing. The interventions we studied were either universal or specifically targeted children from disadvantaged families: none explicitly used an equity framework to guide their design or evaluation or addressed social gradients in wellbeing. Most interventions remained focused on proximate factors, although we also identified a handful of interventions that sought to address children's access to services and their educational and neighbourhood environments. However, we found encouraging evidence that interventions in family and educational settings were successful in building children's strengths and supporting positive parenting, universally and within disadvantaged groups. Such positive programme evaluations signal the potential for using a proportionate universalism approach that emphasizes equity in the promotion of mental wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
46. Stop Cracking Your Knuckles!
- Author
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FORD, LAURA
- Subjects
- *
PATIENT-professional relations , *SPEECH therapists , *SPEECH therapy , *PROFESSIONAL practice , *GRADUATES - Abstract
A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of interacting with her older patients as a speech-language pathologist.
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
47. Relationship of SARS-CoV-2 Antigen and Reverse Transcription PCR Positivity for Viral Cultures.
- Author
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Currie, Dustin W., Shah, Melisa M., Salvatore, Phillip P., Ford, Laura, Whaley, Melissa J., Meece, Jennifer, Ivacic, Lynn, Thornburg, Natalie J., Tamin, Azaibi, Harcourt, Jennifer L., Folster, Jennifer, Medrzycki, Magdalena, Jain, Shilpi, Wong, Phili, ard, Kimberly Goff, Gieryn, Douglas, Kahrs, Juliana, Langolf, Kimberly, Zochert, Tara, and Hsu, Christopher H.
- Subjects
- *
VIRUS isolation , *ANTIGENS , *SARS-CoV-2 , *TRANSGENIC organisms , *REVERSE transcriptase polymerase chain reaction - Abstract
We assessed the relationship between antigen and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) test positivity and successful virus isolation. We found that antigen test results were more predictive of virus recovery than RT-PCR results. However, virus was isolated from some antigen-negative and RT-PCR‒positive paired specimens, providing support for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention antigen testing algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
48. An Assessment of the Psychosocial Evaluation for Early Liver Transplantation in Patients With Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis in the Context of Alcohol Use Disorder, a Case-Control Study.
- Author
-
Dienstag, Aryeh, Dienstag, Penina, Mohan, Kanwal, Mirza, Omar, Schubert, Elizabeth, Ford, Laura, Edelman, Margot, Im, Gene, and Shenoy, Akhil
- Subjects
- *
ALCOHOL-induced disorders , *HEPATITIS , *PATIENTS , *PEOPLE with alcoholism , *CASE-control method , *RETROSPECTIVE studies , *ACQUISITION of data , *COMPLICATIONS of alcoholism , *PSYCHOMETRICS , *MEDICAL records , *LIVER transplantation , *ACUTE diseases , *TRANSPLANTATION of organs, tissues, etc. , *EARLY medical intervention - Abstract
BACKGROUND: Severe acute alcoholic hepatitis (AAH) has an extremely poor prognosis with a high short term mortality rate. As a result, many centers, including our own, have allowed transplant patients to be listed for transplantation prior to achieving 6-months of sobriety. Several scoring systems, designed to target patients with a minimal period of sobriety, have been proposed to identify patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD), who would be predisposed to relapse after liver transplantation. We investigated whether these scoring systems corroborated the results of the non-structured selection criteria used by our center regarding decision to list for transplant. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case-control study of 11 patients who underwent early liver transplantation for AAH matched with 11 controls who were declined secondary to low insight into AUD. Blinded raters confirmed the severity of the diagnosis of DSM-5 and scored the patients on a variety of structured psychometric scales used to predict alcohol relapse. These included the High Risk for Alcohol Relapse Scale (HRAR), Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment Tool (SIPAT), Alcohol Relapse Risk Assessment (ARRA), Hopkins Psychosocial Scale (HPSS), Michigan Alcoholism Prognosis Score (MAPS), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test -Consumption (AUDIT-C), and Sustained Alcohol Use Post-Liver Transplant (SALT) scales. All patients who underwent transplantation were followed for harmful and non-harmful drinking until the end of the study period. RESULTS: The transplant recipients had significantly favorable MAPS, HRAR, SIPAT, ARRA, and HPSS scores with cutoffs that matched their previous research. The SALT and AUDIT-C scores were not predictive of our selection of patients for transplantation. Despite an expedited evaluation and no significant period of sobriety, our case cohort had a 30% relapse to harmful drinking after an average of 6.6 years (5-8.5 years) of follow-up. DISCUSSION: Despite the rapid assessment and the short to no period of sobriety, the patient cohort demonstrated a 30% relapse to harmful drinking, consistent with the 20% to 30% relapse to drinking rate reported after liver transplantation for all forms of alcoholic liver disease. Average scores from MAPS, HRAR, SIPAT, ARRA, and HPSS corroborated our current stratification procedures, with lower mean risk scores found in the transplanted group. CONCLUSION: Patients with AUD and severe AAH who obtain new insight into their disease and posses other favorable psychosocial factors have low rates of AUD relapse post-liver-transplantation. The psychosocial selection criteria for patients with alcoholic hepatitis in our institution are consistent with 4 of the 5 scoring systems investigated in their prediction of sobriety post-transplant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
49. Scoring systems to assess relapse risk in alcohol use disorder presenting for early liver transplantation: A systematic review.
- Author
-
Shenoy, Akhil, Dienstag, Aryeh, Dienstag, Penina, Ford, Laura, Schubert, Elizabeth, Wankoff, Margot, Mohan, Kanwal, Mirza, Omar, Bhardwaj, Meera, and Im, Gene
- Subjects
- *
DISEASE relapse , *ONLINE information services , *MEDICAL information storage & retrieval systems , *ALCOHOL-induced disorders , *SYSTEMATIC reviews , *RISK assessment , *TEMPERANCE , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *LIVER transplantation , *MEDLINE , *PREDICTIVE validity - Abstract
Early liver transplantation (LT) is considered for patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) despite limited sober time when acute mortality risk from liver disease is high. The objective of this paper is to find psychosocial tools that do not rely on extended sober time and predict alcohol relapse post-LT. We conducted a systematic review of Pubmed, Embase, and Scopus for studies testing psychosocial tools that used numeric scoring to predict post-LT alcohol relapse. Tools that afforded points for length of sobriety were excluded. Each study was analyzed for its clinical context, post-LT relapse outcomes and predictive validity. Five scoring systems across fourteen samples showed varied validity in predicting post-LT alcohol relapse. Relapse to any alcohol use after LT revealed an average relapse rate of 23%. Most scoring systems were understudied but four of five provided cut-off scores with high negative predictive values for relapse. Scoring systems may have a place in candidate selection but the data on cut-off scores and predictability are still lacking for their use alone in high stakes LT selection. Larger studies with prospective scoring and standardized follow ups for relapse post-LT will better allow the predictive validity of these psychosocial tools to be compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
50. How We Teach: Thermodynamics.
- Author
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Vigeant, Margot A., Cole, Jennifer, Dahm, Kevin D., Ford, Laura P., Landherr, Lucas James, Silverstein, David L., and West, Christy Wheeler
- Published
- 2019
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