Publications by authors named "Lauren M Ward"

Inconsistent results have been obtained from studies investigating the association between soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and nutritional status and cognitive outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the influence of STHs and nutritional status on the intelligence quotient (IQ) of adolescents in the Chitwan Valley, Nepal. In this birth cohort study from the Chitwan district of Nepal, 74 cohort participants were followed up after 14 years.

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Temperature swing solvent extraction (TSSE) utilizes an amine solvent with temperature-dependent water solubility to dissolve water at a lower temperature to concentrate or crystallize the brine and the phases are separated. Then, the water in solvent mixture is heated to reduce water solubility and cause phase separation between the solvent and water. The solvent and de-salted water phases are separated, and the regenerated solvent can be recycled.

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Background: This study seeks to determine what handwashing facilities are available to workers, predominantly in the manufacturing and service industries, to find out if their workplace has the appropriate resources to conduct proper handwashing and how that affects handwashing satisfaction.

Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed U.S.

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Membranes used for desalination still face challenges during operation. One of these challenges is the buildup of salt ions at the membrane surface. This is known as concentration polarization, and it has a negative effect on membrane water permeance and salt rejection.

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In this study, we investigated the occurrence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in primary influent ( = 42), secondary effluent ( = 24) and tertiary treated effluent ( = 34) collected from six wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs A-F) in Virginia (WWTP A), Florida (WWTPs B, C, and D), and Georgia (WWTPs E and F) in the United States during April-July 2020. Of the 100 wastewater samples analyzed, eight (19%) untreated wastewater samples collected from the primary influents contained SARS-CoV-2 RNA as measured by reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays. SARS-CoV-2 RNA were detected in influent wastewater samples collected from WWTP A (Virginia), WWTPs E and F (Georgia) and WWTP D (Florida).

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We investigated the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in wastewater samples in southern Louisiana, USA. Untreated and treated wastewater samples were collected on five occasions over a four-month period from January to April 2020. The wastewater samples were concentrated via ultrafiltration (Method A), and an adsorption-elution method using electronegative membranes (Method B).

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Ketogenic diets (KDs) are high-fat, low-carbohydrate diets that have been used therapeutically for decades, most notably for the treatment of epilepsy and diabetes. Recent data, however, suggest that KD may impart protective effects on mood disorders. The current experiments test the hypothesis that KDs can protect from stress-induced symptoms of mood disorders.

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There is growing concern that value-based payment for health care may disadvantage health care organizations that serve populations with social risk. In the broader investigation of social risk factors, including income, education, neighborhood deprivation, and other risks, the focus on race and ethnicity as a risk factor for disparities in health and health care has diminished. Understanding the independent contribution of minority group status is critical to this discussion.

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Purpose: Disparities in health care persist among many at-risk groups. This study examines the current state of health quality measures addressing disparities and culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS), and identifies important gaps in existing measures and their implementation.

Methods: We searched key quality reporting databases and websites to identify measures and structural program requirements addressing disparities or CLAS.

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The Affordable Care Act requires the federal government to collect and report population data on race, ethnicity, and language needs to help reduce health and health care disparities. We assessed data availability in commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare managed care plans using the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set. Data availability varied but remained largely incomplete.

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