9806 research outputs found
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Faith in Community: Practices That Renew Churches and Neighborhoods
No full textFaith in Community argues that American society faces a profound crisis of community, marked by eroding social connectedness, declining trust, and weakened capacity for collective action. Drawing on six years of fieldwork in six diverse congregations, the book offers a Christian ethical account of why and how churches can respond to this crisis. It contends that congregations, despite cultural headwinds and public mistrust of institutions, remain vital places where people seek belonging, moral purpose, and opportunities to serve. By cultivating robust internal community through hospitality, small groups, and engaged discipleship, and by extending that community outward through service, partnerships, dialogue, and faith-based organizing, churches can strengthen both their members and their neighborhoods. The book provides theological grounding, sociological insight, and concrete practices to help congregations reclaim their community-building vocation and contribute to a flourishing public life
Empowering Paraeducators: A Mixed Methods Study of Targeted Paraeducator Training in Trauma-informed and Restorative Practices
No full textThis mixed-methods study, grounded in Improvement Science, examines behavioral support provided by paraeducators, sometimes referred to as paraprofessionals, to students who receive special education services. Districts employ paraeducators to implement Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with a range of disabilities. Often, paraeducators possess limited skills and receive little training to provide effective support to students. Additionally, paraeducators remain among the lowest-paid employees in school districts. Research suggests that targeted professional development, particularly whole-group instruction, followed by coaching, modeling, and feedback, can improve both paraeducator implementation fidelity and student outcomes. Five paraeducators working in a program serving elementary students with behavioral needs participated in an eight-week tiered professional development opportunity. The intervention included whole-group sessions on trauma-informed and restorative practices with opportunities for follow-up coaching, modeling, and feedback. Data collected included responses to pre- and post-survey items on beliefs about behavior, pre- and post-classroom observation data, responses from exit tickets and journal entries, and transcripts of structured one-on-one interviews. Findings indicate that training explicitly tailored to paraeducators, paired with follow-up coaching, impacted the quality of paraeducator support. The results suggested strengthened implementation fidelity of behavioral strategies, improved student outcomes, clearer role expectations, paraeducator perceptions of increased sense of belonging and job satisfaction, and internalization of trauma-informed and restorative practices. The findings highlight the importance of prioritizing paraeducator training and support, both to improve paraeducator retention and to enhance the effective education of students with disabilities within district settings rather than relying on outplacements. This study contributes to the emerging evidence on improving paraeducator support and offers implications for leaders seeking to build capacity and improve outcomes for students receiving special education services
Fostering Educator Well-Being To Manage Job-Related Teacher Stress
Full text linkThe job-related expectations for effective classroom instruction expanded beyond teaching academics after the COVID-19 pandemic, which increased job-related teacher stress (Weisling, 2023). Using a convergent mixed-methods design, the researcher of this Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice (ISDiP) identified a problem of practice as the demands of teaching post-COVID-19 on teacher well-being. In Phase 1 of this ISDiP, the researcher conducted end-user consultations, reviewed existing data, completed a root cause analysis, and reviewed scholarly literature to develop a working theory of improvement to manage teacher stress with self-care and regulation strategies. Phase 2 of this ISDiP aimed to understand to what extent a 6-week professional learning series providing instruction on strategies focused on the physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being domains could build capacity for workplace wellness. The researcher used survey data, weekly journal responses, and a structured focus group to answer research questions. After data analysis, the findings revealed that the 6-week professional learning series provided the participants with practical strategies to improve teacher well-being. However, teachers still felt overwhelmed by unexpected job demands. The results of this study support previous conclusions cited in scholarly literature connected with factors that impact teacher stress. To support teacher well-being, an awareness of the internal structures and practices that increase stress and provide opportunities for self-care will build resilience and foster capacity for workplace wellness
Pioneer Times, Volume 1, Number 17
No full textHighlights include: SHU Dingle Opens Newly Renovated Campus, Fraternity Hosts Eleventh Annual White Ribbon Event, New AI Minor Designed for Non-Computer Majors, OT: A Career That Combines Science, Psychology & Creativity, Upcoming even
Use of the Braden Q scale for prevention of pressure ulcers in the pediatric population
No full textThis project is centered around the patient-centered intervention of preventing pressure ulcers within the pediatric population. The intervention is the usage of the Braden Q scale which has been adapted from its adult counterpart as a way of identifying the patients most at risk for developing these types of injuries. In the poster the background, importance, clinical implications, and barriers to implementation are all discusse
Investing the impact of Cineole on Melanoma
No full textPharmaceutical ingredients have utilized naturally occurring small molecules of plants medicinally (2). 1,8-Cineole, also known as Eucalyptol, is a naturally derived compound found in eucalyptus, rosemary, and camphor laurel. 1,8-Cineole’s effect on melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers and colon cancer exhibits inhibitory properties (4 and 5). Eucalyptol acts as an AhR inhibitor and delays tumor incidence and tumor number in UVB-induced SKH-1 mice while inhibiting COX-2 expression when applied topically (3 and 5). The anti-tumor mechanisms of eucalyptol are exhibited through the negative effect on the positive regulation of the cell cycle by reducing the expression of most genes in transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis with human neuroblastoma cells. This indicates that eucalyptol intervenes in cancer cell growth by inducing apoptosis and anti-proliferation (1). Our preliminary studies showed that 1,8-Cineole acts as a tumor suppressor in A375P cells using the migration of assay. Migration rate decreased after transfection in both 10 mM and 30 mM 1,8-Cineole 24, 48h, and 72h post scratch (P-values for 10 mM 0.29,0.004, 0.04 accordingly and 0.0001, 0.0001, and 0.002 for 30 mM, accordingly).
1. Gao K, Wu C, Li Y, Lu J, Jiang Y. Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Anti-Tumor Mechanism of Eucalyptol Treatment on Neuroblastoma Cell Line SH-SY5Y. Neurochem Res. 2022 Dec;47(12):3854-3862. doi: 10.1007/s11064-022-03786-8. Epub 2022 Nov 4. Erratum in: Neurochem Res. 2022 Dec;47(12):3863. doi: 10.1007/s11064-022-03823-6. PMID: 36331666; PMCID: PMC9718713.
2. Hoch CC, Petry J, Griesbaum L, Weiser T, Werner K, Ploch M, Verschoor A, Multhoff G, Bashiri Dezfouli A, Wollenberg B. 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol): A versatile phytochemical with therapeutic applications across multiple diseases. Biomed Pharmacother. 2023 Nov;167:115467. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115467. Epub 2023 Sep 9. PMID: 37696087.
3. Lee J, Ha SJ, Park J, Kim YH, Lee NH, Kim YE, Kim Y, Song KM, Jung SK. 1,8-cineole prevents UVB-induced skin carcinogenesis by targeting the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Oncotarget. 2017 Nov 20;8(62):105995-106008. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.22519. PMID: 29285309; PMCID: PMC5739696.
4. Murata S, Shiragami R, Kosugi C, Tezuka T, Yamazaki M, Hirano A, Yoshimura Y, Suzuki M, Shuto K, Ohkohchi N, Koda K. Antitumor effect of 1, 8-cineole against colon cancer. Oncol Rep. 2013 Dec;30(6):2647-52. doi: 10.3892/or.2013.2763. Epub 2013 Oct 1. PMID: 24085263.
5. Yoon YE, Jung YJ, Lee SJ. The Anticancer Activities of Natural Terpenoids That Inhibit Both Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers. Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Apr 17;25(8):4423. doi: 10.3390/ijms25084423. PMID: 38674007; PMCID: PMC11050645
Treating Language and Related Factors in Bilingual Children
Full text linkBilingual children with developmental language disorder (DLD) face unique challenges in acquiring both their native and societal languages. This literature review evaluates the most effective treatment approaches for bilingual children with DLD, comparing English-only, bilingual, and non-linguistic cognitive interventions. Findings suggest that while English-only treatments yield the greatest improvements in English proficiency, bilingual approaches support development in both languages, leading to broader linguistic gains. Non-linguistic cognitive interventions enhance attention and processing speed, indirectly benefiting language acquisition. Additionally, phonological awareness training and literacy-focused interventions improve reading skills across languages, indicating cross-linguistic transfer effects. These results highlight the importance of bilingual instruction and tailored interventions to optimize language and literacy outcomes in bilingual children with DLD
Effects of EMST On Improving Swallow Function In Individuals With Neurodegenerative Disease
No full textDysphagia, or swallow dysfunction, poses significant challenges for individuals with neurodegenerative diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s Disease (PD), and Huntington’s Disease (HD). This literature review evaluates the effectiveness of Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST) devices as a therapeutic intervention to enhance swallow function in this population. A comprehensive review of five articles employing the PEDro scale indicates that EMST leads to notable improvements in swallow safety and quality of life. Notably, randomized studies demonstrated a consistent positive correlation between EMST training and enhancements in Maximum Expiratory Pressure (MEP), which is integral for safe swallowing. Furthermore, self-report questionnaires used in the studies underscored that improved swallow function significantly correlates with enhanced perceived quality of life among participants. Despite the promising findings, the review highlights a considerable gap in research specific to EMST application in treating dysphagia within neurodegenerative contexts, suggesting a critical need for further investigation to validate and expand upon these preliminary observations. This synthesis emphasizes EMST as a viable intervention while advocating for more robust studies to conclusively address the complexities of dysphagia in neurodegenerative diseases
Arduino PCB Design
Full text linkThis project aims to transition a functional Arduino-based Morse code sender and transceiver circuit into a dedicated custom PCB design, enhancing the system\u27s compactness, reliability, and professional appearance while maintaining its core functionality. The Morse code sender and transceiver system, initially developed on an Arduino platform, allows users to input text or signals, transmit them in Morse code, and decode received Morse code back into readable text. Key components of the existing system include an Arduino microcontroller, input/output peripherals such as LEDs, photo resistors, and LCD screens, and communication modules.
To improve the system’s robustness and usability, the project involves adapting the Arduino-based prototype into a PCB-friendly schematic and designing a custom PCB using Fusion 360. The PCB will integrate essential features such as sockets for an ATmega328P microcontroller or equivalent, pin headers for peripherals like LCD screens and audio/visual indicators, power management components, and communication interfaces for potential upgrades. After completing the design, the PCB will be fabricated and tested to ensure it meets the functionality and performance standards of the original Arduino-based circuit.
The transition to a PCB offers numerous benefits, including portability through a compact and lightweight form factor, increased reliability by reducing loose connections and wiring errors, and scalability for easy duplication and deployment. This project will use Fusion 360 for PCB design, referencing the Arduino prototype for schematic development and leveraging testing tools to ensure successful signal transmission and reception. The final output will be a fully functional PCB-based Morse code transceiver ready for practical applications in areas such as education, amateur radio communication, or as a foundation for further wireless communication projects