4965 research outputs found
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Biol114: The Effect of varying salt concentrations on Arabidopsis thaliana growth and development
No full textArabidopsis thaliana plants have little to no resistance to high salinity environments, exhibiting a lack of growth at concentrations higher than 150mM. Although Arabidopsis thaliana is considered a salt-intolerant plant, there are specimens found along the coast and closer to oceans and bodies of saltwater. We treated wild-type and unknown mutant (25026) forms of Arabidopsis thaliana with 3M salt water for 15 minute periods spread out over five weeks and measured leaf diameter to determine plant growth. We found a negative correlation between salt concentration and plant growth in the mutant plants, demonstrating possible phenotypic effects on resistance to salinity
Assessing Patient Acuity on Medical Surgical Units and Its Effects on Nursing Care
No full textThis poster is an analysis of the literature regarding the use and effects of assessing patient acuity within the medical surgical population. A patient acuity tool is a system used in health care to determine the complexity of a patient. Current methods and studies of implementing a patient acuity tool are presented and their results are analyzed to determine aspects that have improved, as well as negatively impacted, the delivery of nursing patient care. The need for a standardized patient acuity tool is linked to better patient outcomes, yet a protocol is not standardized. Barriers to implementing a patient acuity tool are addressed, along with the implications that can occur when a patient acuity tool is not used. This literature review emphasizes the importance of assessing patient acuity to better allocate resources and improve patient care. Potential solutions relate back to nurse leadership and establishing a positive workplace culture. If patient acuity tools are implemented, then resources can be better allocated to achieve better patient outcomes
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) Risks, Intermittent vs Indwelling Catheters
No full textCatheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) remain one of the most common, preventable hospital-acquired conditions, This review evaluates the comparative risks of intermittent catheterization (IC) versus indwelling catheterization (IDC) in adult patients
Robotic-Assisted Hysterectomies: Historical Use, Current Applications, and Future Projections
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How Do Education and Prevention Strategies Assist with Reducing Childhood Obesity
No full textAbstract
The purpose of this paper is to discuss whether education and prevention strategies can assist in reducing childhood obesity. A comprehensive literature search was performed across three databases: PubMed, the National Library of Medicine (NLM), and Medline. To customize the search, filters were applied for full-text availability, article type (meta-analysis, randomized controlled trial (RCT), and systematic review), and age range (birth to 18 years). The database search identified studies that covered “childhood obesity”, “education”, “prevention”, and “management”. The findings suggest that a moderate to high strength of evidence (SOE) supports diet and physical activity interventions as the most effective in reducing childhood obesity when implemented by pediatricians or schools with family involvement. Primary care providers did not show any evidence of decreasing childhood obesity due to multiple barriers, including a lack of referral centers, a lack of training, insufficient time, poor reimbursement, and several other factors. Multiple gaps were identified within these studies. The gaps included: a primary focus on developed countries, under-representation of minorities in a significant portion of the studies, children from non-traditional homes, ethnic cultures not taken into account for interventions, and several other gaps. The overall findings support the purpose of this paper, but all the studies recommend that more analysis needs to be completed with the addition of more diverse populations, lower socioeconomic families, and other targeted interventions beyond physical activity and diet as the main targets. This paper demonstrates the potential benefits of early education and interventions involving school and family in reducing childhood obesity, thereby improving the child\u27s future health and decreasing the overall medical cost burden to the patient and society
A Comprehensive Review of Major Depressive Disorder: From Underlying Mechanisms to Outpatient Management
No full textMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent and debilitating psychiatric condition that affects millions of adults in the United States each year. MDD is characterized by emotional, cognitive, and physical dysfunction due to the multifactorial etiology of depression that involves biological, psychological, and social determinants. These determinants influence genetic vulnerability, neurotransmitter imbalances, dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and structural changes in key regions of the brain that all contribute to the pathophysiology of depression. Diagnosis is made via established clinical criteria and supportive tools that assist in guiding treatment. In the outpatient setting, initial management involves psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy-usually serotonin agent, or both. Continued research into improved clinical strategies are essential to enhancing treatment outcomes and reduce the experienced burden of this disorder
A Multiple-Case Study of Nature Center Programs, Events, and Service Adaptations in Response to Emerging Community Needs
No full textUrban nature centers across the United States provide access to outdoor education and safe places to explore the natural environment. The purpose of this qualitative, multiple-case study was to analyze programs, events, and services in response to emerging needs identified by urban nature center administrators in the southeastern United States. This study addressed the central research question, “How have urban nature center administrators in the southeastern United States identified emerging needs and wants of stakeholders, responded to these emerging needs and wants through changes in programming, events, and services offered, and to what extent it has affected their mission?” The participants in this study were key nature center administrators from two urban nature centers in the southeastern United States. Data were collected through questionnaires, observations, interviews, documents, and program artifacts. Categorical aggregation was used to analyze the data found in the literature into themes: nature connectedness; outdoor education; conservation and stewardship; programming; well-being; inclusivity; and accessibility. The case study themes were: developing programs, services, and events; engaging stakeholders; and establishing needs assessments and evaluations. Nature center case study themes were analyzed with the literature review to offer nature center administrators a foundation for developing an annual operations review
Folinic Acid for Impaired Folate Metabolism to Improve Communication Deficits in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
No full textThe purpose of this review is to evaluate the efficacy of folinic acid supplementation in addressing communication deficits in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is characterized by persistent deficiency in social communication and interaction, accompanied by restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior. Communication impairments are a core challenge in ASD and remain difficult to treat. Although there is no confirmed etiology, emerging evidence suggests that a subset of children with ASD may have underlying abnormalities in folate metabolism. Folate receptor alpha autoantibodies (FRAAs) are immunoglobulins that interfere with folate metabolism. When present, they can disrupt the transfer of folate across the blood-brain barrier, leading to folate deficiency. This may play a role in the development of core symptoms of ASD, including impaired language. Folinic acid, a bioavailable form of folate, has shown promise in addressing these deficits. A comprehensive literature search of PubMed and the Cochrane Library was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews examining the therapeutic potential of folinic acid in children with ASD. Ten studies published between 2016 and 2025 were included in this review. Collective findings demonstrated that folinic acid is associated with improvements in verbal communication, including receptive and expressive language in children with ASD. Notably, children who tested positive for FRAAs showed greater improvement. While these results are encouraging, barriers such as lack of FDA approval, insurance coverage denials, and provider hesitancy restrict the clinical use of folinic acid. Limitations such as small sample sizes, variability in dosing regimens, potential bias, and lack of long-term follow-up, demonstrate the need for further research. Larger, multicenter trials of longer duration are needed to validate these findings, support the development of standardized treatment protocols, and improve understanding of long-term efficacy and potential adverse effects. This review acknowledges the contributory role of abnormal folate metabolism in the pathophysiology of communication deficits in children with ASD. It further highlights folinic acid supplementation as a promising therapeutic strategy to enhance clinical outcomes in affected children
