Tufts University Research Articles

Bibliometrics Analysis and Visualization of Sarcopenia Associated with Osteoporosis from 2000 to 2022.

Recent years have seen an increased awareness of sarcopenia in the cross field of osteoporosis and sarcopenia. The goal of this study was to evaluate current bibliometric characteristics and the status of cross-sectional studies between osteoporosis and sarcopenia. Publications related to osteoporosis and sarcopenia published between January 2000 and November 2022 were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection; bibliometric and visualization were performed by Microsoft Office Excel, VOSviewer, Citespace, and R. A total of 1128 documents written by 5791 authors from 1758 organizations in 62 countries and published in 405 journals were identified. USA was the leading country with the highest publication and total citation. University of Melbourne contributed the most publications, while Tufts University had the largest citations. Osteoporosis International was the most influential journals in this field with the highest publications, citations and H index. Cooper C was the most influential author, who published the 20 studies, had the highest local citations and the highest H index. The keywords were classified into 6 clusters: Cluster 1 (aging), Cluster 2 (frailty) and Cluster 3 (osteosarcopenia). Our bibliometric results revealed that the global osteoporosis and sarcopenia-related research increased rapidly from 2000 to 2022, suggesting it was a promising area of research for the future. The future trends in the cross field of sarcopenia and osteoporosis would be the molecular mechanisms of crosstalk between muscles and bones, safety and efficacy interventions with a dual effect on muscle and bone and osteosarcopenia.

Melissa I. Chang, MD, MSE, FACS, FASCRS.

Dr. Melissa Chang was born and raised in a small suburban community of East Los Angeles, CA. She eventually moved to the East Coast to attend Johns Hopkins University, where she earned her undergraduate bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering and a Master of Science in chemical and molecular engineering. She then went on to attend Tufts University outside of Boston, MA, for medical school and completed her General Surgery training at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, NY, during which she also spent 2 years as a research fellow at Boston Children's Hospital, with plans to become a Pediatric Surgeon. Things changed, and she completed her Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. As she tells it, “In trying to ‘figure it out,’ I made my way to Boston for medical school where I first fell in love with Colorectal Surgery during my surgical clerkship at the Lahey Clinic; during my research years where I returned to Boston is where I met my husband (Morris, a lifelong Bostonian); and meeting one of my future partners at a fellows' robotics course is how I ended up in Michigan.”

Incidental Findings in Small Field of View Cone-beam Computed Tomography Scans, Part 2: Interpretation with Aid of a Checklist

IntroductionCone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans are routinely used by endodontic residents and faculty at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine for diagnostic purposes but are not routinely read for pathologic findings by a radiologist. In a 2017 study by Oser et al (part 1), endodontic residents and a radiologist interpreted CBCT scans taken for endodontic diagnostic purposes, and their findings were compared. The results demonstrated that a radiologist is significantly more likely to report incidental findings in small field of view (FOV) scans. A limitation of this study was that the radiologist used a checklist of common findings to review the scans. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the use of a checklist would improve the sensitivity of the endodontic residents’ reporting of incidental findings in small FOV CBCT scans. MethodsThe 203 small FOV CBCT scans used in part 1 were obtained and reviewed by endodontic residents in a systematic fashion. Radiographic findings were reported using a blank checklist. The results were compared with those previously reported. ResultsThe radiologist reported abnormalities in 176 of the 203 subjects (87%), and the residents reported abnormalities in 184 of the 203 subjects (91%). There was an increase in false positive findings when the residents were using a checklist. ConclusionsThe use of a checklist improved the sensitivity but decreased the specificity of the reporting of incidental findings in small FOV CBCT scans by endodontic residents.

Low Serum Bicarbonate in a Patient With Diabetes Mellitus:: A Quiz

Low Serum Bicarbonate in a Patient With Diabetes Mellitus:: A Quiz

Use of short videos and case studies to enhance student confidence in biochemistry knowledge and application in a large lecture biochemistry course in first year veterinary curriculum.

Large lecture courses are an efficient way to convey material to many students but have potential limitations, most notably the tendency for them to promote passive learning opportunities rather than active pedagogies. The curriculum at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, like many veterinary schools, contains many large lecture courses in the pre-clinical curriculum. This objective of this study was to use two active pedagogical interventions in a first-year lecture course named Veterinary Biochemistry and Metabolism that drew connections between basic science and several veterinary diseases. The first intervention targeted increasing students' intrinsic motivation and their confidence with understanding biochemistry concepts using videos created via collaborations between students, staff, and clinical and basic science faculty. The second intervention targeted active and collaborative learning via the implementation of clinical case studies completed in groups to relate lecture content to clinical scenarios with the aim of further enhancing student confidence in their knowledge of the material. To assess the effectiveness of these two interventions, pre-and post-course surveys using Likert style questions were administered to evaluate student confidence in the targeted concepts. The post-survey included open-ended responses on students' perspectives on their most important takeaways from the activities and their suggestions for improvements. The data showed a positive impact of these interventions on student motivation and confidence in their knowledge. This study provides support that targeted interventions to increase active learning strategies increase student engagement and may improve learning efficacy in large lecture courses.

An Interview with Lee Edelman

Abstract: Lee Edelman is the Fletcher Professor of English Literature at Tufts University and a key figure in queer theory. This interview was conducted in December 2022, a month before Edelman's fourth book, Bad Education , was published by Duke University Press. In this discussion, Edelman revisits the "antisocial" debate in queer theory and assesses his understanding of negativity and antisociality in relation to the positions of Leo Bersani and José Esteban Muñoz, among others. Edelman also outlines how his thought in No Future and Bad Education interacts with contemporary politics and strands of Afropessimism, feminism, and family abolition.

Making History: The Academy and the White House Conference

The conference was moved forward by a bipartisan group led by U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (Mass.), Sen. Mike Braun (Ind.), Sen. Corey Booker (N.J.) and the late Rep. Jackie Walorski (Ind.). In every session, from speaker after speaker and from conversations I had with other participants, I was so pleased to see a spirit of bipartisanship pervading the conference. It is clear to me that we, the people, can achieve the goals of the conference1The White HouseStatement by White House on National Strategy on Nutrition and Health. 2022.https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/09/27/executive-summary-biden-harris-administration-national-strategy-on-hunger-nutrition-and-health/Date accessed: October 23, 2022Google Scholar by the target date of 2030 by working together across party lines. The White House Conference made clear what we Academy members already knew: Hunger has a huge impact on quality of life. Everyone needs to have access to good, healthy food. We cannot overcome this problem in silos; we must work together on everything from the food supply and agriculture to nutrition education of the public – including school meals. It is clear that current levels of reimbursements are not enough, there is not adequate equipment, and there is not enough nutrition education. Every time universal school meals were mentioned at the White House Conference, there was an unbelievable amount of applause from the audience. On the day following the White House Conference, the Academy held an online town meeting to reflect on the conference and update our members on what comes next. I noted the sad fact that the U.S. leads so many nations in cases of chronic disease and that there is a disproportionate number of people from underrepresented groups with preventable chronic conditions. Another takeaway from the White House Conference for me: the need to integrate nutrition and health. We have to connect the path from the doctor’s office to the hospital and to the community. Universal screening for food insecurity is a must: Assess who is the patient/client, what is their level of food security/ insecurity and then connect that prioritize their nutritional health. We can better make connections and serve our customers via increased reimbursement and nutrition counseling for obesity and diet-related diseases. We have been advocating for these services as part of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act; TROA would “amend the Social Security Act to enable the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to enhance beneficiary access to the most qualified existing Medicare providers of intensive behavioral therapy for obesity, resulting in decreased health care costs and lower obesity rates among older adults.”2Academy of Nutrition and DieteticsTreat and reduce obesity act.https://www.eatrightpro.org/-/media/eatrightpro-files/advocacy/legislation/issue-brief-troa2021_final.pdf?la=en&hash=DA1946BD29FA4E09C0CC8ED42DAF8B50CCCA86EDDate accessed: October 25, 2022Google Scholar So many wonderful ideas were presented at the White House Conference, and we already are seeing great things happen. In the weeks immediately following the Conference, I attended two follow-up meetings: the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Nutrition Security and Healthcare Summit; and the Industry Collective Commitments in Action conference, sponsored by FMI – The Food Industry Association and Tufts University. And groups of Academy members are coming together to see how they can be actively engaged in meeting the White House Conference’s goals. That is so important, because it is now time to take action. The White House asked national organizations to submit commitments to end hunger and increase healthful eating and physical activity by 2030. I am proud that our Academy has made a number of commitments to get it done:1.The Academy will accelerate efforts to diversify the allied health workforce, including the field of nutrition and dietetics.2.By leveraging the role of nutrition and dietetics professionals within different settings to achieve nutrition security, the Academy will advance efforts to bridge gaps in nutrition services from clinical care to the community.3.The Academy will advance efforts to increase access to healthy school meals for all students. Read much more detail about our commitments on eatrightPRO.org.3Academy of Nutrition and DieteticsAcademy Commitment to End Hunger and Improve Health.https://www.eatrightpro.org/news-center/member-updates/white-house-conference-on-hunger-nutrition-and-health/academy-commitment-to-end-hunger-and-improve-healthDate accessed: October 25, 2022Google Scholar My fellow members: The ball is in our court, exactly where it should be. I can’t wait to work together with you to achieve the White House Conference’s goals and the Academy’s commitments!

Effect of Education on Ease of Doing Business in Conditions of Innovation Development: Factor Analysis and Multiple Regression

Education accelerates changes and transformations in social life, as well as one of the main factors of progress and development in general and business. The article substantiates and formalises the relationships between indicators of the level of education (taking into account its innovative development) and the ease of doing business based on evidence from 28 world countries and the data from the World Bank, the United Nations, Tufts University and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services. The article aims to find indicators of innovative education that most significantly contribute to the ease of doing business. For this, cognitive analysis of statistical data is carried out, and with the help of descriptive analysis tools, a statistically significant characteristic space of indicators is formed. Checking the density and direction of the relationship is carried out by calculating the values of the Pearson correlation coefficients. The multidimensionality of input feature space is reduced to the four most significant indicators from nine investigated ones (digital development indicator; human development index; digital trust, financial literacy index) using the procedure of principal component analysis and orthogonal transformation using the Varimax method in the Statgraphics Centurion 19 software. The quality of the factorisation is confirmed by Kaiser-Meier-Olkin testing and Bartlett’s sphericity testing. As a result of the developed multiple econometric models, which describe the dependence of ease of doing business and the above indicators, and the Backward Stepwise Selection hard screening procedure in Statgraphics 19, a statistically significant model of the effect of digital development on ease of doing business is built. It shows that with the value increase of digital development by 1%, ease of doing business will also increase by 0.79%. The obtained results can be useful to scientists for further research, as well as to change-makers in education and business and all stakeholders in the direction of «business–education» competition.

Flipping the (COVID-19) Classroom: Redesigning a First-Year Information Literacy Program during a Pandemic

The literature on information literacy identifies several significant challenges inherent in designing and providing comprehensive first-year programs, including reach, sustainability, instructional design, the flipped classroom, and assessment. In summer 2020, in response to the requirements of the COVID-19 pandemic, the User Experience and Student Success (UESS) Department at Tisch Library of Tufts University developed an innovative approach to instruction that addressed these challenges. The new concept optimized online learning in both asynchronous and synchronous modes and created a sustainable program for the future. This article outlines the process used to develop this program, its learning outcomes, and the results of both student learning and programmatic assessment.

A Systems ‘Analysis of Latine Education in Massachusetts: A Call for Critical Intercultural Integration

AbstractDespite attending schools in a state internationally recognized for innovation, research and education, Latine students in Massachusetts, USA continue to disproportionately experience discrimination, economic segregation, health disparities and racial inequities that have shaped their schooling experiences and outcomes across the educational pipeline (Colón, “We are beautiful people”: The schooling experiences of Puerto Rican school‐aged mothers [PhD Thesis]. Tufts University, 2019). Grounded in critical analysis of intercultural education towards social justice (Pica‐Smith et al., Social justice education in European multi‐ethnic schools. Addressing the goals of intercultural education. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, London, 2019), this paper critically examines publicly available data to highlight barriers, opportunities and the need for educational researchers, policymakers and administrators to collectively reimagine an educational project that attends to the needs of this population. In the context of the unyielding disparate impact of COVID‐19, we argue that more ever, this reimagination needs to be grounded in the dynamic conception of culture (Levitt et al., International Migration Review, 38, 1002, 2004), intercultural perspectives on education that are based on critical notions of intergroup contact, dialogue and exchange (Allport, Forms and techniques of altruistic and spiritual growth: a symposium, 1954, 367; Council of Europe, White paper on intercultural dialogue. Living together as equals in dignity, Strasburgo, 2008) and multidimensional notion of belonging at the micro and macro levels for a more just education writ large.

Studying the tumor microenvironment under pressure

Meenal Datta is an assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Notre Dame. Prof Datta received her PhD in Chemical and Biological Engineering from Tufts University in 2018, after which she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. Her research focuses on deciphering the atypical tumor microenvironment that drives disease progression and treatment resistance in incurable cancers. By understanding and overcoming the biological, chemical, electrical, and mechanical abnormalities found in solid tumors, new therapeutic approaches can be discovered. Prof. Datta specializes in multidisciplinary and mechanism-based preclinical research that has the potential to be rapidly translated to improve treatment approaches in the clinic. She has spent her time as a researcher deciphering and reprogramming abnormal tissue microenvironments that present in a variety of diseases ranging from virulent tuberculosis to benign schwannoma to deadly glioblastoma that, surprisingly, share unifying features: abnormal blood vessels, abundant extracellular matrix, immunosuppression, and mechanopathologies. During her PhD, Dr Datta normalized the aberrant blood vasculature found in pulmonary tuberculosis granulomas to improve drug delivery. In her postdoctoral training, Dr Datta re-engineered the immunosuppressive brain tumor microenvironment to improve glioblastoma response to immunotherapy. As the director of the Tumor Immune Microenvironment & Mechanics Lab at Notre Dame (the TIME lab). Prof Datta’s research group is applying engineering fundamentals and problem-solving approaches to explore mechano-immunological phenomena in the tumor microenvironment and discover novel biophysical targets of interest.

The Essential Writings of Vannevar Bush edited by G. Pascal Zachary

<i>The Essential Writings of Vannevar Bush</i> edited by G. Pascal Zachary

Partnership Between Psychiatrists, Faith Leaders Untapped Key to Expanding Reach of MH Care

Partnership Between Psychiatrists, Faith Leaders Untapped Key to Expanding Reach of MH Care

Interview with His Royal Highness Prince Mired bin Raad Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan

Born in Amman on 11 June 1965, His Royal Highness Prince Mired Raad Zeid Al-Hussein earned his BA degree from Tufts University in 1987 and his MA degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in 1995, with a specialization in international relations/strategic studies. He continued his education at Cambridge University, England, where he received an MPhil in historical studies in 1998. In addition, Prince Mired attended the British Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1990 and served for several years in the Jordanian Armed Forces, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.Upon leaving the military, Prince Mired decided to continue serving his country by other means, dedicating his life to humanitarian and social causes. He has been the Chairman of the National Committee for Demining and Rehabilitation since 2004, and from November 2007 to November 2008 he was President of the Eighth Meeting of States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. He has also served as the Special Envoy of the Convention since 2009 and has had the honour and privilege of travelling the world advocating for further accession by countries that have not yet acceded to the Convention, as well as calling for the implementation of the Convention's articles by the States that have done so.Prince Mired is also President of the Hashemite Commission for Disabled Soldiers, a position he has held since 2000. Over the course of the last two decades, the Commission has been able to provide a wide variety of different services, acting as a support network to all servicemen and servicewomen with disabilities in the Kingdom.In addition, from 2008 through to 2013, Prince Mired served as Vice-President of the Higher Council for the Affairs of Persons with Disabilities, and in 2014 he was appointed by Royal Decree to serve as its President, succeeding his father, HRH Prince Raad Bin Zeid. In 2017, with the passing of groundbreaking new legislation calling for the rights of persons with disabilities, the Council was renamed as the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Prince Mired also served a short stint as President of the Jordanian Paralympic Committee from 2017 to 2018.On 28 February 2021, in addition to all his aforementioned responsibilities, Prince Mired was appointed by Royal Decree as Chief Chamberlain to His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein of Jordan.Prince Mired is married to HRH Princess Dina Mired. They have three children, Shirin, Rakan and Jafar.

Complete Genome Sequence of Gordonia rubripertincta Bacteriophage Hexbug Suggests Potential for a New CT Subcluster.

Through the SEA-PHAGES program at Tufts University, a bacteriophage infecting Gordonia rubripertincta NRRL B-16540 was isolated and characterized. Hexbug is a lytic phage and is currently one of 44 phages belonging to cluster CT. The Hexbug genome shares >96% nucleotide identity with cluster CT phage Orla.

Designing a Browser Extension for Reliable Online Health Information Retrieval Among Older Adults Using Design Thinking.

The pervasiveness of online mis/disinformation escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic. To address the proliferation of online mis/disinformation, it is critical to build reliability into the tools older adults use to seek health information. On average, older adult populations demonstrate disproportionate susceptibility to false messages spread under the guise of accuracy and were the most engaged with false information about COVID-19 across online platforms when compared to other age-groups. In a design-thinking challenge posed by AARP to graduate students in a Digital Health course at Tufts University School of Medicine, students leveraged existing solutions to design a web browser extension that is responsive to both passive and active health information-seeking methods utilized by older adults in the United States. This paper details the design-thinking process employed, insights gained from primary research, an overview of the prototyped solution, and insights relating to the design of effective health information-seeking platforms for older adults.

Review: Art for the Future: Artists Call and Central American Solidarities, edited by Erina Duganne and Abigail Satinsky

Review: <i>Art for the Future: Artists Call and Central American Solidarities</i>, edited by Erina Duganne and Abigail Satinsky

Sea and Kosher Salts Versus Iodized Table Salt, a Reminder

Richard I. Shader, MD, is Professor Emeritus, Tufts University School of Medicine, Bourne, MA. The author has no conflicts of interest to disclose. Correspondence: Richard I. Shader, MD, Tufts University School of Medicine, 10 Warren Rd., Bourne, MA 02532 ([email protected]).

Dietary Energy.

Journal Article Accepted manuscript Dietary Energy Get access Susan B Roberts, Susan B Roberts Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA Address correspondence to SBR (E-mail: susan.roberts@tufts.edu). https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1320-8460 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Valerie Flaherman Valerie Flaherman Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Advances in Nutrition, nmac092, https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmac092 Published: 27 August 2022

Complementary Effect of Electro Acupuncture on Refractory Head and Neck Myofascial Pain: A Retrospective Investigation of Patient-Reported Outcomes

Introduction: Acupuncture (AC) is among the complementary treatment modalities to manage chronic myofascial pain. The aim of this investigation was to assess the additive effect of AC in reducing the intensity of primary chronic myalgia/myofascial head and neck pain in patients using oral orthotic appliances (OA). Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for 103 patients diagnosed with primary chronic myalgia/myofascial pain and received OA with/without AC at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM). Subjective reporting of face/TMJ/neck pain was recorded at the initial visit and at short-term and long-term follow-ups using patient-reported pain/discomfort numeric rating scale (NRS). Results: Most subjects were females (77.7%) with the mean age of the entire study population being 53 years old. In patients with refractory response to OA, combining AC with OA showed significant improvement in NRS score compared to baseline, in TMJ pain (P=0.023), neck pain (P= 0.055), facial pain (P=0.006). The addition of AC to OA has also brought refractory pain to low levels, comparable to what OA-only respondents reported [TMJ pain (P= 0.395), neck pain (P=0.694), face pain (P=0.553)]. Conclusion: AC may provide a complementary therapeutic modality to manage refractory cases of primary chronic myofascial pain.