Lessons Learned in Executing the Nursing Home COVID Action Network

The University of Louisville ECHO Hub for the Nursing Home COVID Action Network put together a hub of experts that could effectively address the diverse needs of the 240 nursing homes in the 7 cohorts launched. We included an infectious disease expert, a geriatrician, and a behavioral health specialist who adjusted the curriculum to be more in line with the needs of the nursing homes. Our nursing homes were diverse in terms of geography, size and location. We created space for our cohorts to feel comfortable with each other, despite their differences. To foster this sense of togetherness, our facilitators used anonymous opinion polls and incorporated the use of virtual breakout rooms to encourage small group discussions. These strategies assisted in developing a sense of community within the Project ECHO sessions, that will continue to evolve in the post COVID world.

Antibody Testing of Infants Born to Asymptomatic COVID-19 Positive Mothers

Awareness of SARS-COV-2 IgG may contribute to the management of asymptomatic RT PCR COVID-19 positive pregnant women, their newborns, and future vaccination practices. Objective: Characterize COVID testing results of asymptomatic COVID-19 positive pregnant women and their infants. Our assumption/hypothesis maintained that all infants born to asymptomatic COVID-19 positive mothers would have detectable SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG. Study Design: Retrospective chart review. Clinical demographics/COVID-19 testing of maternal/infant dyads were reviewed/collected for reporting purposes. Setting: Center for Women and Infants (CWI), University of Louisville Hospital, Louisville, KY Participants: Asymptomatic COVID-19 positive pregnant women/infant dyads admitted to the CWI between June 2020 to February 2021. Results: 36 COVID-19 positive asymptomatic mother/37 infant dyads (one set of twins) reviewed. 38% of the mother/infant dyads were positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgG, while 27% of mother/infant dyads were negative for IgG. A COVID-19 positive mother of twins was IgG negative, but both twins were positive. Two mothers in this study group had developed significant COVID-19 disease at 28w4d gestation and 34w0d gestation. Both required intensive care but recovered, and their pregnancies were maintained until 37w4d and 39w3d gestation, respectively. By the time of delivery, both mothers had negative COVID-19 RT PCR testing, but both infants were positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies. COVID-19 RT PCR testing on both of these infants at 24 and 48 hours of age was negative. Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 IgG is passively transferred to the infant during pregnancy of asymptomatic positive COVID-19 mothers however appears variable and/or possibly based on the ability of IgG detection with current testing. Further investigation of the immune system’s response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus during pregnancy can direct future management/treatment during pregnancy, especially in the wake of vaccination for the virus during pregnancy and emerging variants.

Entrevista sobre Filosofia Africana com o professor Dr. Dimas A. Masolo

Tivemos o privilégio de conhecer o Prof. Dismas A. Masolo durante as atividades da segunda edição do Anthropocene em 2018. A partir de uma conversa informal surgiu a ideia de uma entrevista, que se realizou por via telefônica no ano seguinte e que é agora publicada em tradução portuguesa. O Prof. Masolo, que nasceu e passou parte da sua vida no Quênia sob dominação colonial britânica, obteve doutorado em Filosofia pela Università Gregoriana (Itália) e lecionou em várias universidades na África e nos Estados Unidos da América. Hoje é professor de filosofia na University of Louisville (EUA) e uma das principais referências internacionais na área da Filosofia Africana. Entre as suas publicações vale a pena mencionar Self and community in a Changing World (2010) e African Philosophy in Search of Identity (com I. Karp, 2000). A entrevista é a abordagem tanto de um ponto de vista da afrocentricidade e ancestraliade epistemilógico, quanto da perspectiva para o ensino dispórico. As perguntas foram provocadas pelo grupo de estudos relações étnicorraciais.

The Rapid Assessment of Aggregated Wastewater Samples for Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 on a City-Wide Scale

Throughout the course of the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic there has been a need for approaches that enable rapid monitoring of public health using an unbiased and minimally invasive means. A major way this has been accomplished is through the regular assessment of wastewater samples by qRT-PCR to detect the prevalence of viral nucleic acid with respect to time and location. Further expansion of SARS-CoV-2 wastewater monitoring efforts to include the detection of variants of interest / concern through next-generation sequencing have enhanced the understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. In this report we detail the results of a collaborative effort between public health and metropolitan wastewater management authorities and the University of Louisville to monitor the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic through the monitoring of aggregate wastewater samples over a period of 28 weeks. Our data indicates that wastewater monitoring of water quality treatment centers and smaller neighborhood-scale catchment areas is a viable means by which the prevalence and genetic variation of SARS-CoV-2 within a metropolitan community of approximately one million individuals may be monitored. Importantly, these efforts confirm that regional emergence and spread of variants of interest / concern may be detected as readily in aggregate wastewater samples as compared to the individual wastewater sheds.

Performance of active porcelain enamel coated fibers for fiber-reinforced concrete : the performance of active porcelain enamel coatings for fiber-reinforced concrete and fiber tests at the University of Louisville

A patented active porcelain enamel coating improves both the bond between the concrete and steel reinforcement as well as its corrosion resistance. A Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to develop a commercial method for production of porcelain-coated fibers was developed in 2015. Market potential of this technology with its steel/concrete bond improvements and corrosion protection suggests that it can compete with other fiber reinforcing systems, with improvements in performance, durability, and cost, especially as compared to smooth fibers incorporated into concrete slabs and beams. Preliminary testing in a Phase 1 SBIR investigation indicated that active ceramic coatings on small diameter wire significantly improved the bond between the wires and the concrete to the point that the wires achieved yield before pullout without affecting the strength of the wire. As part of an SBIR Phase 2 effort, the University of Louisville under contract for Ceramics, Composites and Coatings Inc., proposed an investigation to evaluate active enamel-coated steel fibers in typical concrete applications and in masonry grouts in both tension and compression. Evaluation of the effect of the incorporation of coated fibers into Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) was examined using flexural and compressive strength testing as well as through nanoindentation.

Managing campus parking demand through course scheduling – an approach to campus sustainability

Purpose The purpose of this study is to use the optimization modeling method to explore whether there is an ideal arrangement of course enrollments that can yield optimal parking demand and supply on college campuses. Design/methodology/approach Using the University of Louisville as a case study, this study deploys a three-step analytical process to examine the correlation between parking demand and course enrollment, estimate parking demand based on course enrollment with regression analyses and embed this estimated relationship in an optimization model that minimizes on-campus parking demand and supply. Findings The correlation analyses suggest significant correlations between course enrollments and on-campus parking. The correlation patterns are different between students and university employees. The optimization results indicate that coupling parking supply and course scheduling decisions can reduce parking supply by 30%. Originality/value Voluminous studies on sustainable campus transportation have focused on transportation demand management strategies. The relationship between course-scheduling and parking demand was not explicitly accounted for in most studies. This study's results reveal that parking demand on campus depends on the number of courses offered across time. Thus, factoring and optimizing course schedules in campus parking decisions remains a viable and essential option to reduce on-campus parking demand.

Milanof, Lillian Catherine

Lillian Catherine Milanof (1922–2015), Professor Emerita at Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work at the University of Louisville, has, as her heritage, a lifetime of accomplishments as an advocate for social justice.

Long-term Follow-up of Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Intervention for Abdominal Pain with Minimal Biliary Ductal Dilation, Stone Disease, or Malignancy

Background Safety and efficacy of endoscopic methods in management of biliary colic after cholecystectomy in patients with minimal biliary ductal dilation and no evidence of biliary stones or malignancy have not been clearly demonstrated. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of endoscopic management of such patients. Methods The University of Louisville database was queried for patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for colicky abdominal pain between 1996 and 2016 who had a common bile duct (CBD) diameter of ≤12 mm. All patients had undergone prior cholecystectomy and were free of malignancy. Demographic, serologic, procedural, and outcome variables were assessed. Results A total of 35 patients underwent a total of 99 ERCPs. Median CBD diameter was 10 (range 4-12) mm. A total of 31 patients (89%) underwent sphincterotomy, 28 (80%) underwent stent placement, and 5 (14%) underwent balloon dilation. The median number of ERCPs performed was 2 (range 1-10). Three of the 35 patients (9%) developed post-ERCP pancreatitis at some point during their treatment. At last follow-up since initial ERCP (median 16 months, range 2.4-184 months), 12 (34%) patients endorsed abdominal pain and 11 (31%) reported experiencing nausea. Conclusion For select patients with abdominal pain in the setting of minimal CBD dilation and no evidence of stone disease or malignancy, ERCP can safely and effectively be used to manage symptoms. While patients may require multiple interventions, they can derive long-term relief from these procedures.