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Footprints in the Sand: Determining the Pattern of Human Traffic in a Coastal Dune Complex
No full textHuman trampling is a mechanism for opening and maintaining regions of bare sand on sand dunes. Our goal is to examine patterns of trampling in Lake Michigan coastal dune complexes near Saugatuck, Michigan. Raindrop patterns on sand are recognizable in low altitude aerial photographs, whether acquired using drones or pole aerial photography, and are erased by footprints made since the last rain event. Measuring areas of disturbed and undisturbed sand therefore provides a way to monitor human use of the landscape. The technique is limited by saturation, where new footprints erase old footprints, so a first step is to develop saturation curves. We used two experiments to evaluate saturation over an area and along a trail. In the area experiments, people made 15 passes of 15 steps over a 9 m2 area of evenly raked sand for a total of 225 steps. The trail test entails a person making 3 passes at a normal stride back and forth over an area that is 0.62 m by 2.6 m. For both tests, we used a camera on a 4.8 m painter’s pole to take pictures between each pass and compared the number of footprints on the photographs to the number of actual footsteps, to create saturation curves. Initial data for the square area test show that the curves are linear to approximately 10 steps per meter square, then level off to saturation at approximately 14 steps/m2. Initial data for the trail test show that saturation varies but was reached more rapidly, at approximately 8 steps/m2. Preliminary observations indicate that more trampling in dunes occurs on trails, with less trampling in areas of mixed vegetation and open sand patches adjacent to trails. Furthermore, larger open areas in sand dunes accessed by trails experience high amounts of trampling, in some areas reaching saturation, while comparable open areas not accessed by trails experience low trampling
Emergency Department Nursing Education Interventions for Compassion Fatigue
No full textNurses who work in the emergency department (ED) are exposed to many complex situations. While nurses may develop compassion satisfaction from providing care that matters, they are also at risk for developing compassion fatigue that can lead to burnout and secondary trauma. The purpose of this study was to develop an educational intervention to decrease compassion fatigue in emergency department health care professionals (HCP). Based on the results of a literature review, an educational brochure was developed. This educational intervention is a component of a larger research study in a 300-bed, Midwestern hospital. The conceptual framework for the larger study is the Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction Theory Model (Stamm, 2009). HCP, consisting of medical doctors and registered nurses, using a non-randomized sampling technique, were asked to complete the PROQOL-5 scale to determine the baseline degree of compassion fatigue in the ED. An educational brochure developed by the researcher will be distributed to the HCP. The HCP will be asked to repeat the PROQOL-5 at 2-months and 6-months after the brochure has been distributed. Descriptive statistics and a one-way ANOVA, using SPSS v.22, will be conducted to analyze data. Results will be limited by the non-random sample and by empathy training provided for each employee during the larger research study. Results and conclusions are pending. Compassion fatigue can lead to secondary trauma, and eventual burnout if not properly addressed in the hospital setting, which can ultimately affect the quality of care patients receive
Using the LUCAS 2 Device According to American Heart Association Guidelines: Quality Improvement
No full textThe Lund University Cardiac Assist System (LUCAS 2), was created in 2011 to deliver standardized mechanical chest-compressions to patients experiencing cardiac arrest. The device use is increasing in the hospital setting. The American Heart Association Guidelines recommend “against the routine use of automated mechanical chest compression devices to replace manual chest compressions.” The same guidelines suggest that the device should only be used in situations where prolonged chest compressions are anticipated or provider safety is compromised. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to examine whether the device is being used in the hospital setting according to the American Heart Association’s Guidelines. Myra Levine’s nursing conceptual framework of the four conservation principles, particularly conservation of energy, was used for understanding the use of the LUCAS 2 device. This was a retrospective chart review conducted in the Emergency Department of a Magnet designated hospital in West Michigan, using a convenience sample of 62 cardiac arrest cases that occurred since the device was first launched in January through July of 2016. SPSS version 23 was used to determine frequency of device use as well as indications for those uses such as cath lab or other advanced interventions like ECMo or Cooling protocols that might compromise provider safety. The device was used in 45.16% (n=28) of cardiac arrest patients. The device was used with no apparent indication on 14.5% (n=9) of patients. Therefore, there is room for improvement for using this device with the American Heart Association’s guidelines. Limitations include a small, non-representative sample. Further research should be done to generate results that can be generalized to the larger population. Previous research has shown that the LUCAS 2 device can improve patient outcomes, therefore nurses should advocate for the use of the device in accordance with the American Heart Association’s guidelines in order to provide patients with the best care possible
Do Ridesharing Services Affect the Congestion of Urban Transportation?
No full textWith rapid advancement in smartphone usage has come the exponential growth of ridesharing applications such as Uber and Lyft. These applications offer an alternative to the taxi industry, which in most cities is highly regulated. While taxi services are restricted in the prices they can charge and the number of vehicles they operate, ridesharing services need not apply for this strict licensing. Using the technology of a smartphone application, Uber’s system of matching drivers and passengers offers an innovative way to hail a ride, with Uber claiming to complete over one million trips per day in the United States, potentially simplifying the process. Furthermore, as rapid urbanization has increased the population density of many U.S. urban areas, cities are pressured to rework their transportation networks to supply the increasing demand for public transportation, a gap ridesharing services have potential to fill. While ridesharing services offer a supplement to the transportation market including taxis, buses, personal cars, and light rail systems, an argument prevails that ridesharing services have increased traffic congestion in major cities. This research examines traffic trends in 100 U.S. cities after the implementation of Uber, which represents a majority of the ridesharing market, and the effect of Uber on road congestion. Using a fixed-effects regression model, I conclude that ridesharing services are associated with increases traffic congestion, but this result is sensitive to the inclusion of city and year fixed effects
The Impact of Advanced Maternal Age on the Young Adult Outcomes of the Next Generation
No full textAccording to the National Center for Health Statistics, from 1970 to 2015, the average age at first birth in the United States increased from 21.4 to 26.5 years (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). To learn what this trend means for the next generation, this research estimates the relationship between advanced maternal age and several young adult outcomes. Specifically, it considers the outcomes of educational attainment and health behaviors, including alcohol consumption and drug and smoking behaviors. This study uses nationally-representative panel data to conduct the analysis, which allows for siblings to be matched and compared. To discover the causal relationship between delayed motherhood on a child’s young adult outcomes, this research utilizes both sibling fixed effects and instrumental variable methods. These approaches account for otherwise unobservable characteristics of a woman that might influence both a mother’s decision of when to have children and her child’s young adult outcomes
Putting Interactive Back in Interactive Journals
No full textWebsites like Pinterest and Teachers Pay Teachers have contributed to the recent popularity of interactive journals in classrooms, yet there seems to be considerable discrepancy as to the meaning of “interactive.” This qualitative study explores the interactive nature of these journals, by analyzing how teachers in one local elementary school use interactive journals in a variety of content areas (English Language Arts, Science and Social Studies). Our findings describe the ways that teachers modify/create interactive journals for the purpose of learning, offering new ways for students to learn through interactions with both the teacher and the content. In particular, we identify multiple ways that teachers promote learning by connecting students and ideas
The Effect of Beetroot Powder Supplementation on Intermittent Cycling Performance
No full textWe examined the effect of beetroot powder (BR) supplementation on intermittent cycling performance. BR powder is a concentrate made out of beets which is rich in nitrites and nitrates which have been shown to improve blood flow. Prior studies have reported an ergogenic effect of BR supplementation on endurance and intermittent exercise performance; however, these findings are not conclusive and further study is warranted. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to determine the effect of BR powder supplementation on intermittent cycling performance in college students. Our hypothesis was that BR powder supplementation would improve intermittent cycling performance compared to a placebo powder as measured by increased mean power output over a series of twelve 6 second sprints. Twelve Hope College students took part in the study. Participants were familiarized with the cycling protocol prior to performing experimental trials, which consisted of twelve 6s maximal cycle sprints each interspersed with 24s of passive rest. Prior to each experimental trial, participants ingested BR powder or placebo for 3 consecutive days in a double-blind counterbalanced manner. Powders were mixed with 6-8 oz of water or juice for ingestion, and ingestion was supervised by student researchers. The final dose was ingested 30 minutes before cycling. Each dose of BR contained 6 mmol Nitrates, while the placebo powder was nitrate-free. This study is ongoing, and results will be available during the poster celebration
Validation of the Omron HJ-323u Pedometer Worn on the Hip, Wrist, and Chest for Measuring Physical Activity in College-Aged Students
No full textActivity trackers, pedometers and other technological devices have recently become a popular way for individuals to monitor the amount of physical activity performed daily. Many studies have recently been conducted to determine the validity of various pedometers when used in different stages of physical activity. The purpose of this study is to test the accuracy of the Omron HJ-323u activity tracker by determining whether this particular model of activity tracker can accurately count how many steps someone takes while moving at different speeds. Furthermore this study will determine if there is a relationship between a participant’s body mass and the accuracy of steps recorded, as well as determine if there is a relationship between steps recorded and placement of the activity tracker. 30 college students’ steps were recorded as they walked on a treadmill at speeds of 1.0, 3.0, and 5.0 mph with activity trackers attached at both wrists, both hips, and the chest. Participants also walked twice around a 200m loop while researchers recorded their steps. It was hypothesized that activity trackers placed on the dominant side of the body would record more valid results at all speeds than trackers on the non-dominant side or the chest. Significant results would validate the Omron HJ-323u activity tracker as well as allow the tracker to be used to confidently during exercise to measure performance. This study is ongoing, and results will be available during the poster celebration
A Case Study: Spinal Injuries of a Collegiate Football Athlete
No full textThe human nervous system provides opportunities to experience so many positive sensations through smell, touch, and activity. However, when the nervous system malfunctions, intense negative sensations can override the positive experiences and cause miserable pain. Spinal stenosis is a condition where the spinal canal narrows and impinges upon the spinal cord causing radicular symptoms to travel throughout the body. Stenosis can be caused by genetic deterioration over time as well as through traumatic injury. Genetically, some individuals are predisposed to have deteriorating vertebral disks within their spinal column which can cause the nucleus pulposus to impinge on the spinal cord or spinal nerve roots. Impingement is also caused by general swelling or trauma within the spinal canal. Mechanisms of injury for traumatic incidents include high velocity neck extension, brachial plexus stretch, and repeated collisions with high amounts of force. This case study looked at a 19-year-old Division III male collegiate football player. After being involved in a larger collision, the athlete’s arms would go numb, which made holding the ball and making an effective play increasingly more difficult. Initially, symptoms were tolerable and the athlete persevered. However, eventually the athlete’s performance was affected enough where he was told to refrain from participating in football after the physician\u27s diagnosis. His genetics as well as extracurricular activities created the perfect storm, which led to his diagnosis of cervical disk disorder with bilateral radiculopathy as well as neural foraminal stenosis of the cervical spine.Treatments to reduce symptoms include neural mobilization and cervical tension, transverse oscillatory pressure, strengthening of muscular stabilizers, and proper posture. Surgical intervention is required in extreme cases. More research is critical for determining better solutions for pain control as well as the potential for return to play for athletic individuals who want to participate in sport
Public Opinion and War in America
No full textThis research examines the American public’s support of U.S. involvement in war. In particular, I explore the role that soldier casualties, economic development, and the length of war play on support for war efforts. Using these variables, I will test the correlation between them and the popularity of the war on the homefront, with the theory that the fewer the casualties and shorter the war, the higher approval rating of the war within public opinion