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DNP Final Report: An Evidence-Based Initiative to Improve Bowel Preparation Quality for Colonoscopy
Full text linkGood colonic bowel preparation (CBP) is an important component of colonoscopy but is often inadequate. Improving CBP can help increase detection of precancerous polyps, prevent procedures from being canceled or repeated, and decrease medical expenses. A quality improvement project was implemented to increase adequate CBP rates at an ambulatory surgery center specializing in endoscopy. Several factors correlate with suboptimal CBP, but the practice question focused on patient education. The PICOT question guiding evidence synthesis was posed: In adult patients preparing for outpatient colonoscopy, how do revised instructions with visual aids compared to written instructions affect CBP adequacy and patient satisfaction? Instructions were revised to include visual aids, plain language, and new formatting and then implemented. Two measures used to assess change were CBP adequacy and patient satisfaction; post-intervention data collected was compared to baseline. Initial analysis of CBP adequacy ratings demonstrated a 0.7% decrease, so individual provider results were further investigated. Physicians from Clinic A saw a collective 1.2% improvement in CBP quality, while Clinic B saw a 6.6% reduction in adequate CBP. Survey respondents shared positive perceptions of the instructions, but there was no significant change in satisfaction. Sustainability of the project included adoption of the instructions and sharing with other clinics in the regional medical group. Future projects may include expansion to other scheduling groups utilized by physicians and evaluating effectiveness of different CBP regimens available
Murder on Music Row: A narrative analysis of mass-mediated country music and independent Texas Red Dirt music
Full text linkThis project employs Roland Barthes\u27 narrative codes as a framework for textual analysis to examine the underlying structures and meanings within song lyrics from two contrasting traditions of country music: mass-mediated Nashville country and Texas Red Dirt. With a sample spanning a five-year period, the study explores how narrative forms reflect broader socio-cultural dynamics and economic forces. Drawing upon the critical theory of the Frankfurt School, particularly the works of Theodor Adorno and Karl Marx, the project concentrates on the commodification of cultural products and implications for authenticity and truth in cultural expression. Through a comparative analysis, the research reveals distinct patterns in how each musical tradition constructs narrative meaning, with Nashville country often aligning with commodified, formulaic storytelling, while Texas Red Dirt music tends to retain localized, less-commercialized narratives. This divergence underscores how market forces shape cultural production, ultimately influencing not only artistic form but also the perceived truth and authenticity of musical narratives
UNDERSTANDING WEIGHT LOSS MAINTENANCE IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN: A QUALITATIVE EXPLORATION
Full text linkPostmenopausal women are treasures in our community. They contribute to society in countless ways, often using their life experience, wisdom, and resilience to serve as caregivers, mentors, and educators. As women age, hormonal changes contribute to increased abdominal adiposity and subsequent metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancers, and bone and joint problems. Weight loss and maintenance of that loss likely contribute to decreased risk factors of comorbidities associated with excess weight and increased daily functioning and fulfillment of desired tasks. Weight management strategies are well-studied. However, postmenopausal women are more likely to regain weight lost. This work explores the gap in knowledge concerning postmenopausal women and weight loss maintenance. Understanding the weight loss maintenance experience in postmenopausal women is crucial to ensure that this population can benefit from the health benefits of maintaining weight loss. The first manuscript is a concept analysis of weight loss maintenance, clarifying that the threshold for long-term weight loss maintenance ranges from 1-3 years and includes the characteristic of an amount of weight loss that is sustained. Therefore, maintaining weight loss and preventing weight regain demonstrates that an individual has achieved sustained weight loss. The second manuscript is a scoping review that provides insight into the psychological factors influencing weight loss maintenance in postmenopausal women. The results indicated that greater self-efficacy is associated with greater weight loss maintenance, and mindfulness engagement and the use of coping strategies during stress positively affect dietary practices. Manuscripts and 2 informed the study presented in manuscript 3, employing an interpretive phenomenological technique within a hermeneutic framework to understand the lived experiences of women with postmenopausal weight loss maintenance. Data was gathered through individual interviews. Interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to examine the participants\u27 replies. The themes guided the interpretation of participants\u27 reports of their experiences in sustaining weight loss
PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS OF EMOTION RELATED CONCEPTS
Full text linkPast research has established the overlap between several emotion-related factors, such as alexithymia, empathy, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and mentalization. The aim of the present study was to analyze where these variables overlapped and how they related to different psychological and psychopathological variables. This was accomplished through the use of a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and four canonical correlation models. The results indicated that there was an eight-component structure that included Alexithymia, Valuing Emotions, Mistrusting Emotions, Positive Reframe, Perspective-Taking, Empathetic Concern, Emotional Pessimism, and Avoiding Emotions. The internal reliability of the components ranged from adequate to excellent. The validity of the components yielded results that, for the most part, are consistent with the limited prior research. Implications of the study included the ability to create a single measure that will assess the eight emotional ability dimensions identified by the PCA, and the confirmation of the importance of these emotion related abilities in relation to psychopathology and other psychological constructs. Limitations of the study were related to the population and sample size
Multispectral Image Analysis Using Deep Neural Networks
Full text linkMultispectral image classification plays a crucial role in remote sensing applications such as land cover mapping, agricultural monitoring, and environmental surveillance. Traditional classification techniques, including the Maximum Likelihood Classifier (MLC), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Decision Tree (DT), and Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), often struggle with the complexity and high dimensionality of multispectral data. Recent advances in deep learning have revolutionized the field of remote sensing by enabling the extraction of high-level, abstract features from raw input data. In this paper, we explore the application of Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) for pixel-wise classification in multispectral imagery. DNNs are capable of learning informative and hierarchical representations, which have demonstrated significant success in a wide range of computer vision tasks. We propose and implement a simple DNN architecture consisting of six layers: an input layer (representing reflectance values across spectral bands), a fully connected layer, a batch normalization layer, a ReLU activation layer, another fully connected layer, and a final SoftMax output layer for classification. Each pixel is represented by a vector of spectral reflectance values. We evaluated our model using two Landsat scenes, one from the New Orleans area and the other from the Mississippi River bottomland area. The proposed DNN achieved classification accuracy of 97.44% and 95.74%, respectively, on these datasets, demonstrating the effectiveness of deep learning for multispectral image classification
Social Cognition and Interaction Training in First Episode Psychosis
Full text linkSocial cognition (SC) involves a suite of neurocognitive and neuropsychological functions that are relevant to and crucial for successful navigation and overall functioning. Within this suite are domains of function such as emotion processing/recognition, attributional style/bias, and theory of mind. In individuals with schizophrenia and first episode psychosis (FEP), these faculties are grossly impaired, and result in difficulties with occupational, social, and basic functioning. Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT) is a treatment intervention that was developed to improve these SC domain impairments in individuals with Schizophrenia, but has not been experimentally applied to FEP populations as thoroughly, where the same neurological and functional impairments are found. This study attempts to apply SCIT to FEP individuals in attempt to investigate the potential utility of the treatment intervention in improving these SC and functional impairment. For this study, FEP participants were assigned to either the SCIT group, or a control group (i.e., conversational skills group), and were assessed pre-treatment and post-treatment for impairments in multiple SC domains, and for functional impairments. Results showed that the SCIT group participants showed improvements in multiple domains of SC function, as well as functional impairments; these results also showed that these improvements within the SCIT group were greater than those in the control group. Finally, results showed that the functional improvements observed within the SCIT group were mediated by the observed SC domain improvements. These findings may improve our understanding of the potential for preventative treatments for symptom and disease progression in FEP individuals
Optimization of localized photothermal therapy utilizing liposomal formulation of IR-820 photoactive dye
No full textCurrent phototherapeutic approaches in cancer treatment include photothermal (PTT) and photodynamic (PDT) therapy, which harness light energy for the activation of a photoactive molecule resulting in the destruction of cancer cells. In PTT, generated local heat kills abnormal cells; whereas, in PDT, a series of biochemical reactions generating reactive oxygen species is responsible for cellular damage. However, a major concern arises in the cellular delivery of an optimal amount of a photoactive molecule required for the desired effect. In this work, we employed IR-820, a new Indocyanine green dye, in a liposomal formulation to maximize its delivery to cancer cells while minimizing its adverse side effects for localized PTT. The synthesized liposomes were monodispersed and highly stable with a hydrodynamic size of 120 ± 5 nm and a narrow polydispersity index of 0.15 ± 0.02. The optimized liposome loaded with IR-820 showed gradual and sustained release in acidic and physiological pH conditions, and these liposomes exhibited biocompatibility when treated with human breast cancer cells (MCF-7). Also, this formulation showed immune response when compared to free IR-820 upon treatment to THP1 monocyte cells by regulating TNF-α and IL-6 cytokines. Irradiation of free IR-820 and liposomal IR-820 aqueous solutions using an 808 nm near-infrared laser resulted in a rapid rise in temperature up to 60 ◦C within 30 s, as captured with a FLIR infrared camera. Such an order of magnitude of temperature rise effectively destroys more than 50 % of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) within 30 s of NIR laser irradiation. Considering the ease of liposome fabrication and observed phototoxicity, the proposed liposomal formulation of IR-820 photoactive dye could have great potential and hold promise in photothermal therapy of cancers
Technology-Driven Education: Insights from Collegiate eSports
Full text linkThis case study investigated how collegiate eSports players navigate the physical, mental, social, and academic challenges associated with competitive gaming, with a focus on its implications for adult education. Through in-depth interviews, the study explored players\u27 diverse gaming routines, perceptions of excessive gaming, and strategies for balancing competing demands. While eSports participation fosters cognitive skills, social bonding, and career opportunities, it also presents risks such as physical inactivity, poor dietary habits, stress, and exposure to toxic gaming behaviors. A key finding is that the eleven students independently developed strategies to address these challenges, emphasizing the importance of integrating comprehensive support systems—such as physical activity initiatives, mental health resources, and academic support—within collegiate eSports programs. These insights are particularly relevant for adult education, as they highlight the need for targeted interventions that promote a balanced lifestyle, enhance well-being, and leverage eSports as a dynamic platform for skill development and lifelong learning
Integrating Three-Dimensional Mentoring with Workforce Development Training: a Collaborative Autoethnographic Examination of Skill Transfer
Full text linkThe increasing demand for skilled professionals in technical fields necessitates innovative educational approaches that integrate skill development with effective mentoring frameworks. This paper presents an autoethnographic analysis of skill transfer within workforce development environments, emphasizing a three-dimensional mentoring model encompassing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral mentoring dimensions. The study examines applications in command-line learning, gamified instruction, and safety training within virtual environments. The research highlights best practices in mentoring sustainability, the role of technology in reinforcing skill acquisition, and the ways in which learning-community engagement enhances workforce readiness. Additionally, this study integrates research on student engagement, community experiences, and retention strategies, demonstrating how mentoring supports long-term learner success
Rethinking Science Education Practices: Shifting from Investigation-Centric to Comprehensive Inquiry-Based Instruction
Full text linkInquiry-based learning (IBL) has become a cornerstone of contemporary science education, championed by frameworks like the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). While designed to engage students actively in scientific practices, inquiry is often misapplied, resulting in an overemphasis on hands-on investigations. This investigation-centric approach can overshadow other essential phases of inquiry, leading to a superficial understanding of scientific concepts. This paper introduces a Comprehensive Inquiry-Based Science Education (CIBSE) Framework, grounded in responsive teaching and aligned with the NGSS scientific and engineering practices. The framework emphasizes student reasoning, explanation, and the balance between short exploration and scaffolded support, aiming to offer a more holistic approach to inquiry-based science instruction. By synthesizing key elements from existing models and cognitivism, constructivism, and sociocultural learning theories, the CIBSE Framework addresses current gaps and limitations, providing educators with strategies to guide students toward deeper conceptual understanding and critical thinking. Ultimately, this balanced, adaptable framework empowers educators to meet diverse classroom needs, fostering scientific literacy and critical thinking skills essential for navigating an increasingly science-oriented world