Skip to main content Skip to navigation
Showcase Sustaining health

The Impact on Student Motivation to Engage in Behavioral Harm Reduction Practices

The Impact on Student Motivation to Engage in Behavioral Harm Reduction Practices

Primary author: Alex Steiner
Co-author(s): Oluwafemi Sunday; Patricia Maarhuis

Primary college/unit: Cougar Health Services/Health Promotion
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

This research project evaluated the WSU IMPACT program’s effectiveness by measuring students’ motivation to engage in behavioral harm reduction practices regarding high-risk substance use, which in turn affects academic success. Student motivation was measured via four questions using a “level of importance” Likert scale associated with self-reported engagement in protective strategies, as well as participant willingness and intention to engage in these strategies. IMPACT is a harm reduction and psycho-education service provided to students mandated by the WSU Center for Community Standards sanction process for substance use violations. The purpose of this small group intervention is to administer a substance abuse BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students) program (1999) based on efficacious best practices identified in the CollegeAim Matrix report (2015). Analyses: Independent T-test and ANOVA of pre/post brief intervention results were conducted across two sessions and four pre/post time points (Alcohol group N = 252, Cannabis group N = 106). Results: Overall, across all four questions, significant differences were found between timepoints one and two as well as timepoints three and four, with an upward slope or increases in reported positive harm reduction behaviors post IMPACT intervention (Alcohol: F(1, 116) = 5043.15, p = .001; Cannabis: F(1, 38) = 848.64, p = .001) Conclusion: Per these self-reported data, the IMPACT intervention was effective in increasing motivation and intention for positive behavior change regarding high-risk substance use across multiple timepoints.

Smart Home Residents’ Behavior Analysis

Smart Home Residents’ Behavior Analysis

Primary author: Beiyu Lin
Faculty sponsor: Diane Cook

Primary college/unit: Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

In 2030, 19 percent of the population in the United States will be aged 65 and older. In 2050, it will be 22 percent. With population growth and aging problems, we anticipate that there will be increasing healthcare needs of seniors for their physical and mental health problems. We want to design technology to help them live independently as long as possible at home and help them have a positive quality of life.

With decades of behavioral data from over 100 smart homes, we now can design new approaches to model human behavior from smart home sensors for extracting insights about our health. We design a new approach based on inverse reinforcement learning, which considers a house plan as a grid and each cell in the grid includes spatial-temporal features of a resident. For example, we design methods to study a resident’s in-home trajectory during the time s/he is healthy and then use deviations from this learned function to predict abnormal behaviors which may indicate potential health problems. Residents who make changes in their routine, such as sleeping in a living room recliner rather than a bed, are due to their health deterioration, such as increased breathing difficulties.

We are the first group to utilize inverse reinforcement learning to study indoor behavior patterns and its indication of health conditions. This model will help researchers having a greater understanding of human routine behavior and its variations that can transform how healthcare services are delivered to millions of homes.

Communication about Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Research with American Indians and Alaska Natives

Communication about Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Research with American Indians and Alaska Natives

Primary author: Amanda Boyd
Co-author(s): Alyssa Mayeda; Clemma Muller; Meghan Jernigan; Dedra Buchwald

Primary college/unit: Edward R. Murrow College of Communication
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) affect 5 million Americans 65 years of age or older. The number of people in the US with ADRD is expected to increase to 14 million by 2050 unless preventive interventions and effective treatments are developed. Despite advances in ADRD research among non-Hispanic Whites, little is known about ADRD prevalence and risk factors for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people, partly due to their low participation in ADRD research. To increase research participation, it is important to understand how best to communicate about ADRD with AI/ANs. In 2018, we conducted a cross-sectional health needs assessment survey of AI/AN adults attending the SeaFair Indian Days Powwow (n=221) in Seattle, Washington and the Gathering at the Falls Powwow (n=108) in Spokane, Washington. The survey included questions about their attitudes towards research participation, preferences for communication about ADRD. Among the 329 respondents, 34% had seen, heard, or read about ADRD during the past year, 38% would consider participating in a research program designed to test a medical treatment for ADRD, and 76% thought it was important for AI/ANs to participate in research programs to test medical treatments. We discuss factors that may contribute to and enhance ADRD research participation and improve communication about ADRD and its risk factors. Further study is needed to determine whether incorporating culturally relevant risk messaging would improve communication about ADRD, improve awareness, or increases AI/AN participation in ADRD research.

A study of thermal crosslinking hydrogel with coaxial needle for manufacturing tubular shape structure

A study of thermal crosslinking hydrogel with coaxial needle for manufacturing tubular shape structure

Primary author: Ilhan Yu
Co-author(s): Luiz Longo
Faculty sponsor: Chen, Roland

Primary college/unit: Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

Extrusion using a coaxial needle to create tubular shapes has become a popular method in tissue engineering and drug delivery. Chemical crosslinking hydrogels were the most popular materials used to manufacture tubular shapes with coaxial needles, but because of fast gelation times, non-uniform gelation, and low strength and toughness have been pointed out as drawbacks. Thus, in this study, we investigated the feasibility of using a thermal crosslinking hydrogel with coaxial needle to get the tubular shape. Gellan Gum (GG), a thermal crosslinking material, was used and extruded via the outer needle. Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was extruded through the inner needle. First, we analyzed the delay and response time of the system due to heat exchange of the two fluids computationally. Second, we determined the hydrogel extrusion condition and its influence on the structural geometry of shapes structure both computationally and experimentally. Various flow rates of the inner needle and outer needle was tested, and the resulting wall thickness of the structure was measured. Results show that there is a delay of transition for thermal hydrogels due to the heat exchange between two fluids. The response time of system when the flow rate of PBS changes from steady state and how long does it takes to become steady state. In the second part of the experiment, we observed that it is possible to control the wall thickness of tubular shape by changing inner fluid with certain boundary.

Naturally derived peptides enhance killing efficiency of colistin against colistin-resistant bacteria

Naturally derived peptides enhance killing efficiency of colistin against colistin-resistant bacteria

Primary author: Kaitlin Witherell
Faculty sponsor: Dr. Douglas Call

Primary college/unit: College of Veterinary Medicine
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

Colistin is a “last-line” antibiotic that is used to treat multidrug-resistant, Gram-negative bacteria, but colistin resistance has emerged. In susceptible bacteria, colistin binds lipid A and destroys the bacterial membrane. MCR (encoded by mcr-1 and others) is a phosphoethanolamine transferase that modifies lipid A resulting in decreased affinity for colistin. We are investigating two cysteine-dense peptides (CDPs), “B03” and “B11” that appear to kill bacteria by interacting with the bacterial membrane. We propose that using CDPs in combination with colistin we can kill colistin- and multidrug-resistant bacteria at lower concentrations and more quickly compared to colistin alone. We have shown B03 and B11 are able to reduce the colistin resistance profile of mcr-1 harboring and multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli AR Bank #0346. By adding 100 µg/ml of peptide B03 we are able to significantly reduce the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of colistin from 1.25 µg/ml to 0.063 µg/ml. When 50 µg/ml of peptide B11 is added the MIC of colistin is reduced to less than 0.0005 µg/ml. We also found that by adding either peptide, 346 is killed faster and at lower concentrations compared to using colistin alone. We are determining the mechanism of action of these peptides by performing membrane potential assays and employing scanning electron microscopy.

Parents, Peers and Pot: An Exploratory Study of Adolescents’ Social Media Sharing of Marijuana-related Content

Parents, Peers and Pot: An Exploratory Study of Adolescents’ Social Media Sharing of Marijuana-related Content

Primary author: Jessica Willoughby
Co-author(s): Stacey Hust; Jiayu Li; Leticia Couto; Soojung Kang; Shawn Domgaard

Primary college/unit: Edward R. Murrow College of Communication
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

Adolescents often post content related to risk behaviors online, and social media posting related to substance use has been found to be associated with intentions to use and substance use. However, there is a dearth of research about what may motivate an adolescent to share marijuana-related content. This study aimed to examine the types of content related to marijuana that adolescents are posting on social media and what may influence such sharing. We conducted an online survey in Washington state (N=350), a state in which recreational marijuana use is legal for persons aged 21 and older, and examined adolescents’ social media sharing of marijuana-related content. Thirty-one percent of adolescents in our study reported sharing marijuana-related content on social media, with 24% of adolescent participants sharing marijuana-related memes. Peer marijuana use and perceived parents’ approval of marijuana were positively associated with the likelihood of posting marijuana-related content on social media. Increased perceived parental monitoring was negatively associated with posting marijuana-related content on social media, however, increased parental media monitoring was not. Our research highlights the factors that may influence adolescents’ decisions to share marijuana-related content on social media. Internal factors, such as personal beliefs, were not associated with sharing such content in the final model, whereas external factors, such as perceived peer use and parent approval, were. Our results have implications for communicators, who may want to address adolescents’ norm perceptions, and parents, who may want to informally monitor their children instead of monitoring their social media.

Staff Perceptions of Involuntary Nursing Home Closure and Relocation Processes

Staff Perceptions of Involuntary Nursing Home Closure and Relocation Processes

Primary author: Raven Weaver
Co-author(s): Karen Roberto; Nancy Brossoie; Pamela Teaster

Primary college/unit: Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

Involuntary nursing home closures occur infrequently, but when they occur, they impact residents, their family members, and facility staff. Residents’ care needs are of primary concern, yet few studies have examined the centrality of and relationship between actions of staff to residents’ relocation adjustment. We interviewed 18 administrators and 44 staff working at 27 facilities to explore the relocation process for residents from two facilities that lost Medicaid certification because of low quality performance. Our research questions were: 1) What are the issues and challenges faced by facilities who accepted residents from decertified facilities? 2) How did relocation affect the lives of residents and their families? Using content analysis, we identified challenges that hindered relocation and affected resident/family experiences. Receiving facility staff perceived undue distress and hardship on residents/families because of inadequate notification about the situation. Limited, untimely, and poor communication led to residents being unprepared for moving. The efficiency and effectiveness of the resident discharge process was also viewed as unacceptable. Minimal documentation in residents’ charts hampered coordinating resident moves. Receiving facility staff offered recommendations for decertified facilities and receiving facilities to improve the relocation experience, including the need for open communication, thoughtful and early engagement in the process, and transparent and timely interactions. Findings suggest that resident-centered policies are needed to improve the involuntary relocation process and give voice to remaining/receiving staff, both integral to residents’ support system. We offer evidence-based recommendations for policy and practice to improve processes to ensure the well-being of residents facing involuntary relocations.

The Contribution of Sleep to the Development of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

The Contribution of Sleep to the Development of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Primary author: William Vanderheyden

Primary college/unit: Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine
Campus: Spokane

Abstract:

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) arises as the result of experiencing a physical and/or psychological trauma. Human populations with PTSD show features of sleep disturbance that include insomnia, nightmares, and difficulty staying asleep through the night. Sleep disturbances are considered a hallmark feature of PTSD, yet little is known about the contribution of sleep to the pathogenesis of the disorder.

Using a rodent model of PTSD called “Single Prolonged Stress” we have begun examining if 1) sleep deprivation prior to trauma exposure has any impact on the development of PTSD and 2) if increasing sleep quantity via optogenetics in trauma exposed animals can improve the outcomes associated with trauma exposure.

Preliminary data show that pre-trauma-exposure sleep deprivation has no impact on subsequent PTSD-like cognitive impairments. However, post-trauma-exposure sleep improvements are able to restore cognitive function back to non-trauma exposed levels.

These data identify sleep as a potential therapeutic for trauma exposed populations.

Validation of the baking step for brownies to control Salmonella

Validation of the baking step for brownies to control Salmonella

Primary author: Phoebe Unger
Co-author(s): Arshdeep Singh; Amninder Singh Sekhon; Monipel Ansong; Lakshmikantha H. Channaiah; Minto Michael
Faculty sponsor: Minto Michael

Primary college/unit: Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

Salmonella can survive under dry environment of flour for extended periods of time. Salmonella can flourish when flour is hydrated while preparing batter or dough, and could cause serious foodborne illnesses if the product is improperly baked. The main goal of this study was to validate a simulated commercial baking process for brownies that has ~7 log CFU/g Salmonella population. The study was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications. All-purpose flour was spray inoculated with a 5-serovar Salmonella (Enteritidis, Montevideo, Newport, Senftenberg and Typhimurium) cocktail, and dried back to original pre-inoculation water activity. Brownie batter was prepared from inoculated flour and baked in a conventional oven at 176.7°C for 40 min in a 12″ by 12″ pan. Samples were taken at five-minute intervals during baking. Microbial populations were enumerated using injury-recovery media (brain heart infusion agar overlaid with xylose lysine deoxycholate agar). The initial Salmonella population in brownie batter was 6.9 log CFU/g. The Salmonella population was below the detection limit (0.60 log CFU/g) after 30 minutes of baking. The bacterial population at 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 minutes were calculated as 6.7, 6.5, 5.5,4.4 and 2.6 log CFU/g, respectively. As expected, the water activity of brownies decreased during baking. This study validated that a typical commercial brownie baking process utilizing an oven temperature of 176.7°C and baking for at least 40 min would achieve >5-log reductions in Salmonella populations. However, validation studies should be individually conducted for brownie products with different baking parameters.

Compared to C57BL/6J Mice, C57BL/6N Mice Exhibit Reduced Ethanol Consumption That Is Not Due to a Discrepancy in Sweet Taste Perception

Compared to C57BL/6J Mice, C57BL/6N Mice Exhibit Reduced Ethanol Consumption That Is Not Due to a Discrepancy in Sweet Taste Perception

Primary author: Talia Thuet
Co-author(s): Kevin Douglas

Primary college/unit: College of Veterinary Medicine
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

DBA/2J (D2) and C57BL/6J (B6J) mice are widely used as models for low and high ethanol (EtOH) consumption genotypes respectively. However, a key determinant of low EtOH consumption in D2 mice is taste-aversion to EtOH, which precludes voluntary consumption to neurologically active concentrations of EtOH. This phenomenon is explained in part by D2 mice having an allele of the sac locus which encodes a sweet taste receptor with reduced responsivity to sweet compounds like saccharin, sucrose, and EtOH. Furthermore, vast genetic differences between B6J and D2 mice make it difficult to identify key underlying neuro-molecular-genetic factors that contribute to their respective drinking profiles. To address these complications, we studied EtOH and sucrose reinforcement in C57BL/6N mice (B6N), a substrain of the original C57BL/6J line, distinguished by only five small nucleotide polymorphisms, that exhibits significantly reduced EtOH consumption. To determine whether taste-aversion to EtOH is a primary determinant of low EtOH consumption by B6N mice, we subjected animals to a modified sucrose fade procedure using a drinking in the dark, two-bottle-choice paradigm. We determined that; 1) B6Ns consume the same amount of a 10% sucrose solution as B6Js, 2) B6Js consume significantly more of a 10% EtOH/10% sucrose mix than B6Ns, but both achieve physiologically relevant blood alcohol concentrations (15-219 mg%), and 3) B6Js consume significantly more 10% EtOH than B6Ns upon removal of sucrose. Taken together, these results suggest that genetic differences in neurological response to EtOH contribute to differences in EtOH consumption between genetically similar B6J and B6N mice.