College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
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Influence of the Solicitors General on the Supreme Court: 2011-2023
Full text linkThis project looks at the success rate of the OSG and how the data indicates that the government-more specifically between the executive and judicial- is not getting along. In doing so, this scholarship uses 337 Supreme Court cases where the OSG filed on these cases as an amicus brief. This project aims to fill the research gap since 2014. I argue the salience of this research is in 2020-2022 where SCOTUS has 3 new conservative members and the President during this time was leaning more progressive (even more than Obama). All of this works to explain the low success rate of the OSG- which is the data used to back up this argument
Positive Impact of Mangroves on Periwinkle Snail (Littoraria angulifera) Population Size
Full text linkMangroves play a crucial role as shoreline aquatic nurseries and provide infrastructure along bodies of water to protect inland areas from extreme weather and storm surges. Mangroves also provide a secure habitat for animals, and trap and filter pollutants. Their stilt roots provide shelter for fish species and are critical to the survival of many small species that use this ecosystem. We investigated mangrove periwinkle snail populations on the red mangrove species (Rhizophora mangle). Data was collected along Pigeon Creek, San Salvador Island, Bahamas in March 2025. We hypothesized that there is a relationship between mangrove density and snail population size. If this hypothesis is correct, we expected to observe more snails in areas with higher mangrove stilt density. In six randomly selected areas along the creek (area size ranged from 1x2ft to 4x4ft) we conducted a mark and recapture study of snails. Each day, snail numbers were recorded and each was marked with a small dot of nail polish. Each subsequent day, the recaptured snail numbers were recorded and any new snails found were marked. A positive correlation between mangrove stilt density and snail numbers was documented, as our hypothesis had predicted. Based on these data results, we can conclude that mangrove density is important to mangrove periwinkle snail populations
The Resilience of Microorganisms
Full text linkAntibiotics have been studied and used to cure many different bacterial infections since the late 1930s, there has been a decrease in antibiotic development. All of this occurred, while antibiotic resistance continued to grow. Bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, leading to many problems and a lack of solutions to antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. This study explores the resilience of bacteria. We tested a gram intermediate Serratia bacterium that was collected from the midpoint of the wastewater treatment plant at St. John’s University. The bacterium was found to be resistant to Nalidixic Acid up to 250 micrograms per milliliter through extensive and repetitive exposure. This reassures the importance of studying and fighting antibiotic resistanc
Development of Novel Pharmaceutical for Optimization of Opioid Overdose Treatment
Full text linkAlthough opioids are highly effective drugs for pain management, their overuse and addictive nature has caused an opioid epidemic, resulting in many cases of opioid addiction and overdose. There are two current opioid overdose drugs that are FDA approved: naloxone and nalmefene. These drugs have a higher affinity to the active binding pocket on the opioid receptor than opioids do and displace the opioids, preventing any further binding of the opioid and halting the opioid’s effects. However, naloxone is not active long enough to outlast the duration of the opioid and nalmefene causes severe withdrawal symptoms. The development of more effective medications that can be administered in the event of an opioid overdose would significantly help combat opioid overdose deaths. This research aims to develop a small library of molecules based on nalmefene and naloxone scaffolds, in hopes of discovering a new drug that will treat opioid overdose. Each newly developed molecule will be tested through molecular docking software to simulate how tight the molecule will bind to the opioid receptor, as well as in vitro and in vivo testing to further determine effectiveness. This study seeks to address the limitations of opioid overdose treatments and give insight to the key interactions between these drugs and the binding pocket. In addition to developing drugs similar to nalmefene and naloxone, further research toward discovering completely new structures that bind to the opioid receptor could provide a novel approach to treating opioid overdose
Christianity in Relation to Judaism: Historical Memory and Polemics in Constructing the Story of Christian Faith
Full text linkThroughout most of Christian history, Christians have told a replacement story: Christianity has replaced Judaism and is the one valid pathway to God. As both Judaism and Christianity are based on historical events, the story of Christian faith is inevitably told with reference to events in Jewish history, especially events recounted in the Hebrew Bible (or the Christian Old Testament) that contextualize the emergence of Christianity and situate events concerning Jesus of Nazareth within a Jewish context. But over the last seventy years or so, a growing number of Christian scholars and church leaders have acknowledged that traditional Christian ideas about the Jewish tradition and about Christianity in relation to Judaism derive more from Christian polemics than from accurate historical memory. Consequently, the traditional story of Christianity replacing Judaism needs to be replaced by more historically reliable accounts of these religions and their relationship to each other. This essay is my prologue to what I hope in the near future to offer as my own reconstruction of the story of Christian faith in relation to Judaism, a story that will draw inspiration from others who have shown how Christianity is more credibly affirmed when it is presented as allied with Judaism rather than as replacing or even fulfilling it
Implementing a Standardized Education Program to Enhance Nurses\u27 Utilization of Virtual Nurse Support
Full text linkThe rapid expansion of telehealth and virtual nursing support necessitates the development of standardized education programs to optimize the utilization of virtual support systems. This quality improvement project aimed to address the problem of inconsistent and outdated orientation methods for hospital nurses working with virtual registered nurse (ViRN) support staff at a large Midwest hospital. The project engaged over 800 nursing staff across more than 30 inpatient care units, with a focused pilot conducted on three intervention units. The intervention involved the development of an online learning module designed to standardize training and improve utilization of ViRN support. Utilizing the CIPP Evaluation Model and the FADE quality improvement framework, the project measured outcomes through pre- and post-surveys and electronic health record data. A mixed-methods design was used to analyze data through thematic review and descriptive statistics. Results demonstrated increased ViRN-assisted admissions and discharges, and enhanced knowledge of available resources. However, challenges such as trust, time, and perceived usefulness remain barriers to widespread adoption. The project highlights the effectiveness of technology-based, standardized training in improving virtual nursing adoption and suggests potential for broader application in similar healthcare settings. Future recommendations include ongoing evaluation, adaptation of training programs, and exploration of long-term impacts on patient outcomes