11549 research outputs found
Sort by
Celebrating a Milestone: 20 Years of Sharing and Transforming Access to Resources
No full textSince its founding in 2004, the Sharing and Transforming Access to Resources Section (STARS) has been the home for resource sharing professionals within the Reference & User Services Association, a division of the American Library Association. As STARS begins its third decade, two officers reflect on how the section has evolved and the ways in which it has supported the resource sharing community and contributed to its advancement over the past two decades. They also share where STARS is heading next and outline opportunities for resource sharing and other access services professionals to engage and collaborate
Honors College Students in Nursing School: Exploring the Cause of Attrition Rates
No full textThe nursing profession faces a growing demand amidst a national nursing student attrition rate of 20%, creating challenges for workforce sustainability. This study explores the unique experiences of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students concurrently enrolled in honors college programs to understand the barriers and facilitators influencing their program completion. A qualitative focus group of five senior honors college BSN students was conducted to gain insight into their perspectives. Thematic analysis revealed key barriers including lack of interest in research topics, lack of continuity in the honors project timeline, and insufficient research guidance. Facilitators included priority registration and scholarships, exposure to undergraduate research opportunities, and strong mentorship, particularly from nursing faculty. Findings suggest that while dual enrollment offers valuable academic and professional benefits, it may also contribute to heightened attrition risk due to compounded academic demands. Addressing structural barriers and enhancing support systems may improve retention and academic success among this student population
ACTIVITY SIMULATION IN UNITY FOR OLDER ADULTS IN SMART HOMES
No full textThe increased desire to age in place among older adults has led to a growing interest in smart home technologies. Within these smart homes, independent living is supported while maintaining the safety of older adults with timely interventions. This thesis presents the design and implementation of a 3D simulation created in Unity to visualize daily activities within a smart home environment. The simulation models different sensors to simulate a virtual resident interacting within a scanned apartment layout. The data to simulate these activities is obtained from actual sensors previously set up in the living space of an older adult. Along with taking in data, the simulation allows for the creation of scenarios to generate potential behavioral patterns that can be represented in sensor data. This work demonstrates how 3D simulations can close the gap between raw sensor data to an intuitive visualization to further enhance eldercare
The Impact of the ASCM Student Organization on Engagement and Enrollment in the IDIS Program
No full textThe Distribution and Logistics (IDIS) program has suffered from low enrollment and engagement of students over the past decade. The COVID-19 pandemic only led to a greater distance being driven between the IDIS program and the student body. Between Fall 2020 and Spring 2025, enrollment in the program dropped by 24%. To combat declining enrollment and decreasing engagement rates, the ECU ASCM Student Chapter was formed. Inside Higher Ed states [that] “…involvement in campus life beyond the classroom is linked to increased academic achievement, retention, belonging and interest from potential employers.” Consequently, this new student organization has planned several events, including plant tours, social activities, community service opportunities, networking events, and monthly guest speaker meetings to increase student interest in the IDIS program. To date, one goal of our project has been successfully achieved; however, the second goal is still in progress. If these goals are not met, and enrollment and engagement in the IDIS program continue to decline, it is possible that the program could be reorganized or even discontinued. The ECU ASCM Student chapter hopes to engage and enroll students in the IDIS program, while providing the opportunity for students to network and form lasting connections with peers and companies
Enhancing Hispanic Health Equity: Perceptions, Experience, and Impact of ECU’s FreshStart Program with Rural, Hispanic/Latinx Participants with Type 2 Diabetes
No full textAbstract
Hispanic populations in rural North Carolina face disproportionately high rates of type 2 diabetes, resulting from by systemic barriers such a limited access to healthcare, language challenges, and socioeconomic disparities. To combat this, East Carolina University developed the program FreshStart, an innovative, bilingual, community-based diabetes self-management education and support intervention tailored for underinsured Hispanic adults. This program evaluation is aimed to assess the perceptions, experiences, and impact of FreshStart among Spanish-speaking participants, which account for one-third of all members. The intervention integrated group classes, culturally relevant “food is medicine,” produce prescriptions, and personalized telephone-based health coaching. Quantitative outcomes included attendance, pre/post hemoglobin A1C changes, and survey data, while qualitative insights were gathered via semi-structured interviews. Findings indicated high levels of program satisfaction, improved dietary behaviors, and increased motivation for self-management. Participants cited the program’s cultural relevance, hands-on learning approach, and practical support (e.g., fresh produce, bilingual coaches) as key to its success. This study underscores the importance of culturally tailored, holistic interventions in advancing health equity for Hispanic individuals living with diabetes in underserved rural communities
An MRI Analysis: Is There a Correlation Between Bihamular Distance and Intravelar Levator Veli Palatini Length?
No full textThe purpose of this study was to determine if there is a correlation between bihamular distance and the intravelar segment of the LVP muscle, potentially providing a better understanding of intravelar segment length
COUNTERING BACTERIAL RESISTANCE VIA INHIBITION OF TWO-COMPONENT SYSTEMS
No full textThe emergence of bacterial resistance is a current and rapidly growing threat to human health worldwide. Each year, pathogenic bacteria exhibit new or increased resistance to a limited arsenal of existing antibiotics at a rate that greatly outpaces new antimicrobial discovery. In several species the reality of pan-resistant bacterial infections with no means of treatment has already arrived. To counter this, the production of creative, unconventional therapeutics with specific concern for eliminating or reducing resistance development is imperative.
To achieve this goal, the development and application of antibiotic adjuvants - a therapeutic that enhances the effect of another treatment - offers a promising solution. By nature, successful application of an adjuvant would allow for restored efficacy of existing antimicrobials and offset the massive time and monetary investment required for developing new antibiotics.
Two-component systems (TCSs) serve as ubiquitous communication modules that enable bacteria to detect and respond to various environmental stimuli by regulating cellular processes such as growth, viability, and most notably, antimicrobial resistance. Classical TCSs consist of two proteins: an initial membrane-bound sensor histidine kinase and a DNA-binding response regulator that induces the appropriate response within the cell, namely the upregulation of genes that elicit bacterial defense mechanisms.
TCSs are undeniably one of the most effective therapeutic targets against bacterial resistance. Given their function, the inhibition of the TCS would remove the bacteria’s ability to sense and respond to changes in its environment, i.e. the presence of antimicrobials. In laymen’s terms, these treatments effectively ‘blind’ the bacteria to the threat of the therapeutic/antibiotic, removing the ability to activate resistance mechanisms. Further, due to these therapeutics ability to render bacteria oblivious to the threat of the antibiotics, there is no increase in selective pressure. As a result, the bacteria do not develop resistance to the adjuvant compounds or increased resistance to the antibiotic.
As the initiators of the signaling pathways that elicit resistance, the histidine kinases present as the ideal target within the TCS for developing antibiotic adjuvant drugs. Despite this, due to the membrane-bound nature of histidine kinases, in vitro investigations for TCSs have been predominantly limited to response regulators. This includes the development of targeted therapeutics. In this work, we counter this limitation by producing recombinant truncation mutants of the cytosolic portion of HKs that retain ATP-binding, autophosphorylation, and phosphotransfer functions.
This method was initially used in A. baumanii’s PmrAB system to make a truncation of PmrB (Polymyxin resistance protein B), dubbed PmrBc. The PmrAB system is the main mechanism of resistance to colistin (polymyxin E) in Acinetobacter baumannii. This truncation mutant allowed for in vitro evaluation of potential salicylanilide histidine kinase inhibitors, previously shown to eliminate resistance in vivo. Experimental findings from kinase assays, limited proteolysis, and hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX) mass spectrometry enabled us to determine these compounds’ mechanism of action as well as the likely binding site on the ATP-lid of the histidine kinase’s catalytic domain.
Following successful production of PmrBc, other functional cytosolic truncations were produced across multiple species for several resistance mechanisms, including Klebsiella pneumonia. While K. pneumonia also utilizes the PmrAB system to produce colistin resistance, it contains a second mechanism, PhoPQ, that is capable of upregulating resistance genes outside those of the PmrAB system. With the goal of addressing both systems, truncations of K. pneumonia PhoQ and PmrB were produced for screening and evaluation of the salicylanilide inhibitors. Notably, these results revealed variations in specificity/selectivity of the compounds between kinases, suggesting solution of structural data for the kinases will allow for structure-activity-relationship (SAR) based drug design and enable targeting of specific HKs.
Beyond applications for drug development, truncation mutants also enabled expanded in vitro investigation of TCSs. The cytosolic construct of A. baumannii PmrB, was utilized to assess the effect of resistance inducing point mutations in its cognate response regulator. Results of phosphorylation assays identified discrepancies in the phosphorylation rates between point mutants, distinguishing altered phosphotransfer activity as the means of increased Polymyxin resistance within these clinical isolates.
Finally, previous efforts have also been successful in targeting the response regulators within the TCS. A class of compounds called 2-aminoimidizoles (2-AIs), developed from a natural product, have shown the ability to target response regulators. Early work gave clues to their mechanism of action and binding site but were never confirmed. Our recent assessment of the effects of two novel 2-AIs on the PhoPQ system support this previously proposed mechanism of action and indicate how these compounds affect transcriptional regulation. In whole, the work presented here cohesively establishes the efficacy, binding site, and mechanism of action for 2-AI compounds in inhibiting response regulators within the PhoPQ system.
In summation, this work utilizes a range of biochemical techniques to evaluate compounds aimed at inhibiting the histidine kinase and response regulator of TCSs to ameliorate antibiotic resistance. We also develop methods for producing functional cytosolic truncation mutants that counter current limitations in research of two-component systems. These works offer promising avenues in countering antibiotic resistance that simultaneously limit the potential for bacteria to develop resistance to the adjuvant compounds or increased resistance to antibiotics
The Impact of Virtual Simulation on Clinical Judgment Development in Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Pilot Study
No full textBackground: Healthcare today is more complex than ever, with patients arriving at hospitals severely ill, often with multiple comorbidities. As patient care acuity rises, so does the need for nurses who can make safe and effective clinical judgments while ensuring quality care. Clinical judgment involves recognizing important aspects of a patient's condition, interpreting them, and responding appropriately. For years, clinical judgment and decision-making have been critical in prelicensure education, and recent research has focused on measuring these skills with psychometric precision using case studies and innovative item types on the licensure exam determining whether new graduate nurses are prepared for the complexity of patient care.
Method: This study utilized David Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory and Christine Tanner’s Clinical Judgment Model as the theoretical framework, emphasizing the development of thought processes that enhance learning. A quasi-experimental quantitative research design was employed to assess whether virtual simulation with instructor feedback improved clinical judgment among undergraduate nursing students. A pre- and post-case study assessment using Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) questions, based on the Modified Lasater Clinical Judgment Rubric, was developed to measure clinical judgment before and after virtual simulation. The case study results were graded, and clinical judgment development was evaluated using the Modified Lasater Clinical Judgment Rubric by Christina Zamaripa.
Results: The results indicated that the clinical judgment scores on the pre-case study assessment were higher than the post-case study assessment scores, following the virtual simulation with instructor feedback. Despite the decrease in scores, on average, the level of clinical judgment remained the same at the developing. Regarding individual components, skillful response within the responding phase showed significant improvement from the pre- to post-case study assessment score following the virtual simulation, however, the moderate negative effect size indicates that the change was not very large.
Conclusion: Findings from this study indicate that while students reported positive perceptions and felt the virtual simulation enhanced their learning, clinical judgment scores declined post-intervention. Despite student engagement, the simulation did not lead to measurable improvements, likely due to factors such as class length, content complexity, and gaps in foundational knowledge. When examining individual components and scoring, students showed some variation in their clinical judgment development. For certain components, their scores declined, while in others, their clinical judgment levels remained unchanged on average. For responding, both the scores and clinical judgment level declined for confident tone. As for well-planned intervention and flexibility, although their scores declined, students remained at the developing level of clinical judgment. When it came to clear communication, the score improved, but their clinical judgment level remained at developing. As for skillful response, the score improved significantly, yet the clinical judgment level stayed at developing. In the reflecting phase, both evaluation/self-analysis and commitment to improvement scores declined, but the clinical judgment level remained at developing. During the noticing phase, scores for focused observation declined, but the level remained unchanged at developing. For recognizing deviations from expected patterns and information seeking, there was a significant decline in both the scores and clinical judgment level. Lastly, in the interpreting phase, there was a notable decline in both scores and clinical judgment level for prioritizing data and making sense of data. These results suggest that the success of virtual simulation in developing clinical judgment is influenced by the students' existing knowledge base. Several factors highlighted in student feedback may have contributed to the decline in post-assessment scores. Despite its limitations, this study offers an innovative teaching approach and a valuable tool for assessing students' knowledge and clinical judgment skills
A COMPREHENSIVE REFLECTION OF THE IMPACT IN UTILIZING SIMULATION IN TEACHING OBSTETRICS TO UNDERGRADUATE NURSING STUDENTS
No full textThe Bachelor of Nursing program at the East Carolina University College of Nursing currently provides obstetrical clinical at four hospitals throughout eastern North Carolina accommodating an average of 120 clinical students per semester. The hospitals range from small community hospitals to a tertiary care medical center. The diverse locations offer students varied opportunities to immerse themselves in obstetrics. While these clinical rotations offer invaluable learning opportunities for the students, many students lack clinical exposure to many of the more complex intrapartum concepts and complications. To ensure that students can apply these intrapartum concepts to real life patient care scenarios, a study is underway to assess the impact of a complex vaginal delivery simulation on the learning of the undergraduate nursing students in the obstetrics class. This initiative seeks to integrate critical thinking by utilizing feedback surveys from students to assess learning outcomes among undergraduate nursing students enrolled in obstetrics
Droplet Distribution of Formulated Products on Mosquitoes Exposed Via Wind Tunnel: Method Development for Assessment of Product Efficacy Using Fluorescent Dye
No full textMosquito control programs (MCP) rely on methods such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) bottle bioassay to monitor insecticide resistance for technical grade active ingredients. However, CDC bottle bioassays are not designed to assess formulated insecticide products (FP). A compact wind tunnel allows for FP testing in a laboratory setting and is more convenient than a field trial for assessing FP. This study develops a method for investigating FP droplet number and spread on mosquitoes in a novel compact wind tunnel and analyzes the extent to which this relates to mosquito mortality. Four mosquito populations (two wild, two lab; Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens/quinquefasciatus) were reared in incubators at 28°C using established methods. Adult female mosquitoes (4-7 d old) were exposed to four FP (oil-based: ReMoa Tri®, Duet®, Biomist®; water-based: AquaDuet®) mixed with fluorescent dye (1g/L dye:FP ratio) in a wind tunnel to visualize droplet distribution. Mortality was monitored 2, 24, and 48 h post-exposure. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in the number of droplets per mosquito between FP, indicating homogeneous droplet distribution in the wind tunnel. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in droplet distribution between mosquito body parts and this varied by FP. Droplet counts on mosquitoes (subset of cages analyzed) were significantly related to aggregate mosquito mortality for Biomist® and ReMoa Tri®, but not for AquaDuet® or Duet®