North Carolina Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Rehabilitation and release of orphaned bears into the wild offers bear managers an alternative to euthanasia or transfer of bears to captive facilities. The objective of our study was to estimate short-term survival of orphaned American... more

Rehabilitation and release of orphaned bears into the wild offers bear managers an alternative to euthanasia or transfer of bears to captive facilities. The objective of our study was to estimate short-term survival of orphaned American black bears (Ursus americanus) rehabilitated and released into the Smoky Mountains. Between January 1998 and July 1998, we released 11 rehabilitated orphaned bears (6

The pathogenic oomycete Aphanomyces invadans is the primary etiological agent in ulcerative mycosis, an ulcerative skin disease caused by a fungus-like agent of wild and cultured fish. We developed sensitive PCR and fluorescent peptide... more

The pathogenic oomycete Aphanomyces invadans is the primary etiological agent in ulcerative mycosis, an ulcerative skin disease caused by a fungus-like agent of wild and cultured fish. We developed sensitive PCR and fluorescent peptide nucleic acid in situ hybridization (FISH) assays to detect A. invadans. Laboratory-challenged killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) were first tested to optimize and validate the assays. Skin ulcers of Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) from populations found in the Pamlico and Neuse River estuaries in North Carolina were then surveyed. Results from both assays indicated that all of the lesioned menhaden (n = 50) collected in September 2004 were positive for A. invadans. Neither the FISH assay nor the PCR assay cross-reacted with other closely related oomycetes. These results provided strong evidence that A. invadans is the primary oomycete pathogen in ulcerative mycosis and demonstrated the utility of the assays. The FISH assay is the first molecula...

New approaches are needed to enhance implementation of complex interventions for geriatric syndromes such as falls. To test whether a complexity science-based staff training intervention (CONNECT) promoting high-quality staff interactions... more

New approaches are needed to enhance implementation of complex interventions for geriatric syndromes such as falls. To test whether a complexity science-based staff training intervention (CONNECT) promoting high-quality staff interactions improves the impact of an evidence-based falls quality improvement program (FALLS). Cluster-randomized trial in 24 nursing homes receiving either CONNECT followed by FALLS (intervention), or FALLS alone (control). Nursing home staff in all positions were asked to complete surveys at baseline, 3, 6, and 9 months. Medical records of residents with at least 1 fall in the 6-month pre- and postintervention windows (n = 1794) were abstracted for fall risk reduction measures, falls, and injurious falls. CONNECT taught staff to improve their connections with coworkers, increase information flow, and use cognitive diversity in problem solving. Intervention components included 2 classroom sessions, relationship mapping, and self-monitoring. FALLS provided in...

Beginning in 1993, 12 institutions and individuals and The PawPaw Foundation (PPF) embarked on a joint venture to evaluate commercially-available, named pawpaw (Asimina triloba) varieties and PPF's advanced selections within and... more

Beginning in 1993, 12 institutions and individuals and The PawPaw Foundation (PPF) embarked on a joint venture to evaluate commercially-available, named pawpaw (Asimina triloba) varieties and PPF's advanced selections within and outside of the pawpaw's native range. Each Pawpaw Regional Variety Trial (PRVT) planting, consists of about 300 trees, with five to eight replications (blocks) of 28 grafted scion varieties per block in a randomized complete block design (10 named varieties and 18 clones selected in the PPF orchards at the University of Maryland Experiment Stations at Queenstown and Keedysville, Md.). Variables being examined in the trial include climatic effect, culture, pests, growth, fl owering, yield, and fruit characteristics. In 1995, PRVT plantings were established in Kentucky (Princeton, Ky.), Louisiana, North Carolina, Oregon, and South Carolina. In 1998, a second planting was established in Kentucky (Frankfort, Ky.). In 1999, PRVT plantings were established...

The class size debate is still ongoing among researchers, even though smaller class sizes are widely supported by parents, teachers, and the public. To contribute to this discussion, data was taken from the North Carolina (NC) School... more

The class size debate is still ongoing among researchers, even though smaller class sizes are widely supported by parents, teachers, and the public. To contribute to this discussion, data was taken from the North Carolina (NC) School Report Cards (SRC) datasets and used to address two questions: First, is there a relationship between an elementary school’s performance score and average class size? Second, is there a relationship between a middle school’s performance score and average class size? Using the results from a linear regression and ordered logit, we find that average class size significantly predicts both NC elementary and middle school performance. However, the estimates suggest that higher average class size is negatively related to elementary school performance, but positively related to middle school performance. These results suggest that the impact of class size on student and school performance may depend on the grade levels in question, for example, elementary or middle school. We conclude that policymakers should act carefully when manipulating class sizes, since the effect may depend on the grade levels.

This article is designed for primary care physicians, cardiovascular specialists, medical directors, and other managed care administrators responsible for heart failure patients. To provide the reader with a basic understanding of heart... more

This article is designed for primary care physicians, cardiovascular specialists, medical directors, and other managed care administrators responsible for heart failure patients. To provide the reader with a basic understanding of heart failure epidemiology, heart failure management, and different strategies for the management of this particular patient population. 1. To describe the impact of heart failure on the healthcare system in the United States. 2. To briefly describe the current practice for managing heart failure. 3. To describe the evidence for care by cardiologists of heart failure patients. 4. To describe the different disease management strategies being utilized in heart failure management.

Based on surveys of the literature and herbaria, including internet-available herbarium databases (‘‘virtual herbaria’’), plus recent collections, the lichen flora of the Piedmont of North Carolina, USA, consists of 338 taxa representing... more

Based on surveys of the literature and herbaria, including internet-available herbarium databases (‘‘virtual herbaria’’), plus recent collections, the lichen flora of the Piedmont of North Carolina, USA, consists of 338 taxa representing 110 genera in 41 families including three taxa of uncertain position. Broken down by habit, the flora is 32% crustose, 47% foliose, and 21% fruticose. This report presents the first lichen checklist for the North Carolina Piedmont. Twenty-two taxa are reported as new for the state, including the genera Gyalecta, Lichinia and Sarcogyne.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a systematic, multiple assessment protocol could increase reporting of prenatal violence compared with a one-time routine assessment. In 1994, the Maternity Care Coordination (MCC)... more

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a systematic, multiple assessment protocol could increase reporting of prenatal violence compared with a one-time routine assessment. In 1994, the Maternity Care Coordination (MCC) program in a health department prenatal clinic in North Carolina implemented a concise, systematic assessment protocol on all 384 women who enrolled in the program from April 1994 to April 1995. The protocol assessed for violence at three times during pregnancy using the direct question, "Have you been hit, slapped, kicked, or hurt during this pregnancy?" To determine the effectiveness of the system, we retrospectively examined the 1991-1993 MCC records (n = 1056) in which the care coordinators routinely screened all clients for violence at their first visit only. Compared with the routine assessment approach, the new systematic assessment protocol increased reporting of prenatal violence at the initial prenatal visit from 6.3% to 10.9% (relativ...

East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine is responding to the changes in today's health care system by implementing an innovative model of community-based dental education that prepares tomorrow's dentists to meet North... more

East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine is responding to the changes in today's health care system by implementing an innovative model of community-based dental education that prepares tomorrow's dentists to meet North Carolina's future oral health challenges while also providing much-needed care in many underserved areas.

We conducted a large-scale field experiment to test whether clam and oyster harvesting applied alone and in combination on intertidal oyster reefs have impacts on resident shellfish pop- ulations. This experiment was conducted to resolve... more

We conducted a large-scale field experiment to test whether clam and oyster harvesting applied alone and in combination on intertidal oyster reefs have impacts on resident shellfish pop- ulations. This experiment was conducted to resolve a long-standing conflict be- tween oyster (Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin, 1791)) and clam (Mercenaria mercenaria (Linneaus, 1758)) fishermen who contend that the other fishery causes high

It is unclear whether participation in home-delivered meal programs similar to the Older Americans Act home-delivered meals program influence weight status among older adults with hypertension and/or hyperlipidemia. To examine the... more

It is unclear whether participation in home-delivered meal programs similar to the Older Americans Act home-delivered meals program influence weight status among older adults with hypertension and/or hyperlipidemia. To examine the influence of a home-delivered Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) meal intervention on body mass index (BMI), energy consumed, and percent of energy needs consumed. A 1-year randomized control trial of home-delivered DASH meals and medical nutrition therapy conducted from 2003 through 2005. Participants who received DASH meals were compared with those who did not receive meals. Data were collected in participants' homes at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. The study sample was composed of 298 adults aged >60 years with hypertension and/or hyperlipidemia residing in a county in the southeastern part of North Carolina. Participants in the meals intervention group received seven frozen meals per week for 1 year. The meals were designed to m...

Leverage is often applied to persons with mental illnesses who live in the community to encourage them to adhere to treatment. Given the underlying assumption that the targets of such leverage are unable to make good decisions about... more

Leverage is often applied to persons with mental illnesses who live in the community to encourage them to adhere to treatment. Given the underlying assumption that the targets of such leverage are unable to make good decisions about treatment on their own, one might expect that decisional incapacity regarding treatment would correlate with the use of leverage. As part of a multi-site study of leverage in community treatment, 120 subjects at two sites reported on their leverage experiences and completed a decisional capacity assessment with the MacCAT-T. No strong or consistent associations were found between capacity and use of leverage, raising questions about the basis on which decisions to employ leverage are being made.

Past research on prostate and colorectal cancer disparities finds that barriers to screening, such as embarrassment and offensiveness, are often reported. Yet none of this literature investigates why. This study uses masculinity and... more

Past research on prostate and colorectal cancer disparities finds that barriers to screening, such as embarrassment and offensiveness, are often reported. Yet none of this literature investigates why. This study uses masculinity and health theory to examine how men experience two common screenings: digital rectal exams (DREs) and colonoscopies. In-depth interviews were conducted with 64 African American and White men from diverse backgrounds, aged 40 to 64, from North Carolina. Regardless of race or education, men experienced DREs more negatively than colonoscopies because penetration with a finger was associated with a gay sexual act. Some men disliked colonoscopies, however, because they associated any penetration as an affront to their masculinity. Because beliefs did not differ by race, future research should focus on structural issues to examine why disparities persist with prostate and colorectal cancer. Recommendations are provided for educational programs and physicians to i...