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Prkg2 regulates alveolar type 2-mediated re-alveolarization
Get PDFBackground: The cGMP-dependent type 2 protein kinase, encoded by the prkg2 gene, is highly expressed in alveolar type 2 epithelial (AT2) cells. It is unclear whether prkg2 regulates AT2 cell homeostasis and re-alveolarization of injured lungs. This study aimed to investigate the role of prkg2 in the regulation of the fate of AT2 in vitro. Methods: Primary AT2 cells of wild-type (wt) and prkg2--/--mice were co-cultured with fbroblasts as three-dimensional organoids. The colony formation was analyzed between days 4 and 12 post-seeding. EdU assay was used to detect cells with active DNA synthesis. AT1 and AT2 cells in organoids were visualized with anti-podoplanin and antisurfactant protein C antibodies, respectively. Results: Prkg2--/-- AT2 cells developed a greater number of organoids than wt controls. However, compared to wt organoids, a lower number of AT2 but a greater number of AT1 cells were visualized. In addition, a lower number of proliferated cells (EdU+) were observed in prkg2--/-- organoids compared to wt controls. The numbers of organoids and EdU+ cells were signifcantly reduced in protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor H89-treated wt and prkg2--/-- cultures. Organoids and EdU+ cells were increased by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in both wt and prkg2--/-- groups. The increase in the proportion of AT1 and AT2 cells in organoids was only seen in wt controls. Conclusions: Prkg2 may regulate the lineage of AT2 cells, which is afected by endotoxins and the interactive PKA signaling pathway
Power and Voltage Modelling of a Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Using Artificial Neural Networks
Get PDFA proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is a more environmentally friendly alternative to deliver electric power in various applications, including in the transportation industry. As PEMFC performance characteristics are inherently nonlinear and involved, the prediction of the performance in a given application for different operating conditions is important in order to optimize the efficiency of the system. Thus, modelling using artificial neural networks (ANNs) to predict its performance can significantly improve the capabilities of handling the multi-variable nonlinear performance of the PEMFC. However, further investigation is needed to develop a dynamic model using ANNs to predict the transient behavior of a PEMFC. This paper predicts the dynamic electrical and thermal performance of a PEMFC stack under various operating conditions. The input variables of the PEMFC stack for the analysis consist of the cathode inlet temperature, anode inlet pressure, anode and cathode inlet flow rates, and stack current. The performances of the ANN models using three different learning algorithms are determined based on the stack voltage and temperature, which have been shown to be consistently predicted by most of these models. Almost all models with varying hidden neurons have coefficients of determination of 0.9 or higher and mean squared errors of less than 5. Thus, the results show promise for dynamic modelling approaches using ANNs for the development of optimal operation of a PEMFC in various system applications
SARS-CoV-2 Variants Increase Kinetic Stability of Open Spike Conformations as an Evolutionary Strategy
Get PDFSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VOCs) harbor mutations in the spike (S) glycoprotein that confer more efficient transmission and dampen the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and antibody therapies. S mediates virus entry and is the primary target for antibody responses, with structural studies of soluble S variants revealing an increased propensity toward conformations accessible to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) receptor. However, real-time observations of conformational dynamics that govern the structural equilibriums of the S variants have been lacking. Here, we report single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) studies of critical mutations observed in VOCs, including D614G and E484K, in the context of virus particles. Investigated variants predominately occupied more open hACE2-accessible conformations, agreeing with previous structures of soluble trimers. Additionally, these S variants exhibited slower transitions in hACE2-accessible/bound states. Our finding of increased S kinetic stability in the open conformation provides a new perspective on SARS-CoV-2 adaptation to the human population
Impact of Resiliency Training on Combating Burnout
Get PDFOccupational burnout has long since been a problem but has only recently been acknowledged as the spark behind the fire that has led to our critical nursing shortage. Considering the emotional aftermath of the pandemic and the hardships that a strained economy will bring, we must learn how to extinguish these flames rather than adding fuel to this complex problem. Burnout is causing a vicious cycle within the healthcare workforce that will lead to detrimental effects on quality patient care. We must learn how to break the cycle.
The cycle starts with experienced nurses leaving unprecedented numbers and units primarily populated by new or travel/agency nurses. In several cases leads to chaos where the blind are leading the blind. Chaotic departments and worn-down staff increase the likelihood of errors that could be harmful to the patient and the nurses.
Units are being run short-staffed, and nurses are working even longer hours than ever before. Hospitals where nurses continually work over 13 hours are correlated with hospitals that receive the lowest HCAHPS ratings (Symplr, 2021). Patients know when they are getting lower quality care because it clearly shows. A 2010 Annals of Surgery study that measured the three critical areas of burnout found that for every one-point increase in depersonalization, there was an 11% increase in error reporting (Symplr, 2021). The cost of burnout is evident, which is demonstrated by the increased turnover rates alone. According to an article by Katulka (2022), the average cost of refilling one bedside RN position is 46,100, and the financial toll turnover can cause on a hospital can range from 9.0 million.
It is true that burnout has many causes and will take a multifaceted approach to find a lasting solution. However, the best foundational starting place is in promoting the physical and emotional wellness of the nursing population. If nurses are better cared for by the organizations they work for and themselves, they will become a part of the solution. Nurses at their core want to help, but how can we when we have nothing else to give at the end of the day? It is for this reason that resiliency training should be utilized in all hospitals because a more vital workforce, both physically and emotionally, is a workforce that will be the fundamental catalyst for lasting change at an organizational level
Polypharmacy Teaching in the Acute Setting
Get PDFWithin stable economic societies, polypharmacy has become a phenomenon that can be more harmful, although medications prescribed are with good intentions. Education is integral to nursing responsibilities; it is an intervention tool to help patients affected by polypharmacy. The interest in polypharmacy stems from witnessing the lack of patient education within the acute setting, and the lack poses a greater risk for adverse drug events (ADEs). The healthcare industry’s responsibility is to help alleviate the adverse effects that polypharmacy causes, such as falls, adverse drug reactions, hospitalizations, mortality, and cognitive mental (Fried, 2014).
A new performance improvement project (PI) will be implemented to improve patient education on polypharmacy. Each department will have its own goals, but this focus is on the emergency department (ER). In the ER, the nurse is the first to recognize the effects of polypharmacy; the charge nurse and provider should be immediately notified so that a care plan with appropriate interventions can be quickly implemented. Patients must be educated on new medications that include dosages, side effects, and potential risks, and this should be an essential teaching tool for all healthcare staff. A courtesy visit copy will be provided to the patient’s primary care provider with an alert to the ADE or the potential. The plan will follow the patient until discharge from the ER or an inpatient setting. Evaluation will be after a thirteen-week implementation through chart reviews, patient follow-up, and the number of polypharmacy related admits. After implementing this PI project, the goal is to improve the patient’s knowledge base on the practice of polypharmacy, hoping for successful outcomes by potentially reducing ADEs and improving patient awareness. Nurses are responsible for educating patients and their families on how to take control of their health by knowing their disease processes and each prescription taken by the patient
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION FROM OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY SOURCES
Get PDFResearch on intercultural communication has centered on the difficulties that international students experience during their adjusting journey in their new residence away from home. However, there are relatively few in-depth studies that report on international students’ perceptions of communicative practices from university officials. Following a social phenomenological approach, this study focuses on understanding the impressions and experiences of 12 international students. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews centered on three sensitizing concepts: intercultural sensitivity (IS), intercultural communication competence (ICC), and intercultural learning (IL). Data were analyzed using an iterative phonetic approach as described by Sarah Tracy (2019). The findings were organized under seven themes that explain cultural differences from home, perceptions of effective intercultural communication with university officials, and experiences that reveal room for improvement. This study lends support to the existing literature on intercultural communication and provides recommendations for university officials to encourage inclusive multicultural environments
Amicus Historicorum (The Friend of Historians)
Get PDFA guide/help manual for present and future undergraduates students of history at The University of Texas at Tyler, from a group of faculty members, librarians, and undergraduate students
End-of-Life Simulation Education
Get PDFIn the current healthcare workforce, there exists a lack of comfort and knowledge about providing end-of-life (EOL) care that will only continue to worsen without prompt changes to the delivery of education (Jablonski et al., 2020). The lack of knowledge and comfort expressed in providing EOL care leads to a nurse’s moral and physical difficulty when a patient chooses palliative care or hospice. This is a detriment to patients and should be a consideration for schools of nursing when developing curriculum and clinical activities. By promoting changes in curriculum and the addition of an EOL simulation at the undergraduate level, students who enter practice will have an idea of how to provide EOL care before a real patient encounter. This benchmark paper provides a summary of the evidence for the addition of an EOL simulation and education for undergraduate nursing students in their program of study, the plan for implementation, and the benefits this can have on practice.
Specific EOL simulation and education materials such as the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) Undergraduate modules can be used to meet the curriculum and real-life knowledge needs to safely care for patients. In addition to improved patient outcomes, hospitals can save resources on spending by utilizing hospice with an estimated 12,000 when hospice is used in the last month (Aldridge et al., 2022). These cost-savings combined with improved education justify the need for this project’s implementation. The overview of the simulation includes the completion of palliative education materials, a pre-brief session, simulation, and debriefing session. The Frommelt Attitudes Toward Care of Dying Scale (FATCOD) is the primary tool used to evaluate the students at pre-simulation and post-simulation and has been validated previously in both nurses and nursing students. If feasible, the proposed change is for the completion of a high-fidelity EOL simulation by nursing students to help increase attitudes towards caring for the dying, knowledge, skill-performance, and express feelings. Overall, the addition of an EOL simulation and education for undergraduate nursing students will be one of the first steps to providing better patient outcomes at EOL and should be considered to prepare nursing students for such situations
IRIS Nursing Strong Program: Benchmark Study
Get PDFThe change project we are presenting is the IRIS-Nursing Strong program. IRIS stands for: Increasing, Reason & Relaxation, Implementation, Strategies all aimed to prevent nursing burnout. The Iris flower symbolizes hope and strength as nurses are healthcare providers who constantly provide that hope and strength to their patients. We plan to develop this program in the workplace to infuse that hope and strength back into the nurses who spend so much time taking care of others. The goal is to offer a non-judgmental environment, recognize early signs of distress in ourselves and our peers, provide support, learn relaxation strategies, and encourage nurses to use their employer’s mental health services.
Throughout our research, we have identified several studies demonstrating a significant decrease in nursing burnout when implementing workplace initiatives. Psychosocial support, coping strategies, and mindfulness-based programs enhance nurses’ self-esteem, improving trust and communication. The results show that in workplaces where nurses participate, the work environment transforms into a support network in which the staff desires to be active participants resulting in better patient care and enhanced commitment (Green et al., 2021; li et al., 2018; Velando-Soriano et al., 2018)
WEARABLE SENSORS FOR PLANTS
Get PDFThis thesis reports PlantFit: a research and development project that is intended to develop wearable sensors for plants. Plants are responsible for providing food, fiber, fuel, and fodder to the society. To overcome the problem of a limited land base, a more efficient farming approach needs to be developed, and thus precision farming is required. Precision farming would entail personalized healthcare in plants. When the plant is under any stress, the productivity declines. Plants release phytohormones, also known as early responders, in response to these stressors. The key crop phytohormones that respond to environmental stresses include salicylic acid (SA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and ethylene (ET). While SA and IAA are liquid phytohormones, ethylene is a gaseous phytohormone. In this research, we have developed wearable sensors to detect SA, IAA, and ethylene phytohormones at different parts of plants such as leaf, stem, and fruit. The sensors are tested under different physical conditions, and it was found that the sensor response is reliable with a coefficient of variance of less than 5%. The developed sensor shows a high degree of sensitivity and selectivity. The sensor was deployed in live plants to measure hormone levels in real-time. The sensors will find a widespread use and will be useful in measuring plant stress early and in real-time, which will help farmers in taking immediate measures to reduce stress-induced yield decline. In addition, biologists can use the sensors to develop plant species that can cope with adverse environmental conditions such as drought and flood