11549 research outputs found
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Magneto Mechanical Actuation to Treat Brain Cancer
No full textGlioblastoma is the most aggressive and lethal form of brain cancer, remains highly resistant to conventional treatments due to its invasive nature and complex tumor microenvironment. In 2023, an estimated 2 million new cases of brain cancer were reported worldwide, with over 25,000 new cases of malignant brain tumors diagnosed in the United States alone. Current treatment modalities, such as ionizing radiation therapy and chemotherapy, are associated with significant limitations, including high costs (~$82,000 per treatment course) and severe side effects, such as cognitive decline and damage to surrounding healthy tissue. The urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies has driven research into nanotechnology-based approaches that enhance drug efficacy while minimizing toxicity
Increasing Statin Therapy in High-Risk Patients: Executive Summary
No full textThis is an executive summary of a quality improvement project on statin therapy in high risk patients.D.N.P
Adverse Childhood Experiences, Risk-taking, and Protective Factors
No full textResearchers have discovered many detrimental effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). While these outcomes can have far-reaching effects into adulthood, experiencing adversity can also exert proximal impacts on children. An outcome of recent interest in trauma literature is increased risk-taking behavior. I designed the current study to investigate the possible relationship between ACEs and risk-taking in children in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study funded by the NIH. Additionally, I explored the role of close friends and school protective factors as potential moderators in the hypothesized relationship between adverse experiences and risk-taking. My results indicate that ACEs do not significantly predict risk-taking as it was measured in the ABCD Study using a computerized laboratory task. Furthermore, neither having a close friend nor school protective factors moderated the relationship between ACEs and risk-taking. Parent income, ADHD symptoms, and sex of the participant did significantly predict scores on the risk-taking task. Findings are discussed and recommendations for future research are provided
Habitat selection, prescribed burn effects, and passive monitoring of Eastern black rails (Laterallus jamaicensis jamaicensis) in North Carolina
No full textEastern black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis jamaicensis) populations have experienced rapid declines from habitat loss exacerbated by sea level rise and human development. The suitable habitat for this species is broadly described as marsh containing dense, herbaceous vegetation at high elevations with little to no standing water (~ 0-5 cm). However, habitat characteristics, such as vegetation species composition and hydrology, vary by location where black rails are found. In North Carolina, birds are concentrated in only a few areas of coastal marsh that are subject to erosion and likely to be lost within the century. Additionally, this species’ behavior and phenology is poorly understood. As the black rail faces threats of extinction, it has become increasingly vital to better understand the species’ activity patterns and identify viable management strategies to facilitate marsh migration away from the shoreline and preserve existing populations. Prescribed fire may be a useful tool for maintaining patches at an early-successional state and promoting quality habitat, but its effectiveness has not yet been assessed for the mid-Atlantic coastal plain. In Chapter 1, I identify and discuss characteristics of suitable habitat as they relate to burn management and the probability of black rail occupancy. I conducted callback surveys during the breeding season at sites that were either burned in mid-winter or left unburned in 2022. I created occupancy models to identify predictors of suitable habitat. In separate analyses, I directly compared these variables among sites left unburned, within one year of burn, and one-year post-burn. These results were then integrated to assess the effects of prescribed fire management on black rail habitat and the effect of burn status on habitat use.
In Chapter 2, I uncover temporal patterns of vocal activity and propose a phenological timeline for black rails in coastal North Carolina. I used passive monitoring techniques to document aspects of phenology and behavior during the breeding season. During 2023, I deployed recording units and monitored water levels at Cedar Island NWR. Lunar illumination values were extracted for each hour that was recorded. Counts of verified detections (3-second segments of recordings of black rail vocalizations) were then incorporated into models that identified temporal predictors of 1) vocalization probability and 2) counts of call segments during active periods. Predictors of vocalization probability were assessed separately from estimated counts.
Over the 2-year period, I deployed motion-activated trail cameras at locations where black rails were detected to uncover evidence of phenology and breeding activity. I captured evidence of a presumed immature black rail after the completion of its juvenile molt. This 2022 observation is the first record of confirmed breeding by black rails in North Carolina in over 120 years. Results of this project provide insights into habitat preferences, vocalization patterns, and breeding phenology of Eastern black rails in North Carolina
The Impact of Alcohol Misuse and Intellectual Disability on Occupational Safety
No full textIn the United States, people with disabilities have the right to live and work in the least restrictive environments possible based on their needs. However, workers with intellectual disabilities struggle with shortcomings in both intellectual ability and adaptive capacity which can put them at higher risk for occupational injury particularly if they also cannot recognize how their own behaviors such as binge drinking might impact that risk at work. The objective of this research was to discover if disability status and/or disability type had an effect on binge drinking in the state of Minnesota when controlling for age, sex(m/f), and race. Data from the 2018 Minnesota Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System was utilized for this study. Negative binomial regression analysis revealed that there was no statistical significance related to disability status or disability type. However, both sex and age were statistically significant at a 95% confidence level. Similar to other research, this result found that younger men in general including those with disabilities were more likely to binge drink than women and people in any other age group. Occupational safety implications include offering alcohol misuse counseling services in the work setting, screening for off-hours alcohol use routinely as a part of occupational accident investigations, and encouraging workers to seek support when feeling pressured to binge drink during social situations
Creating an Algorithm to Address Financial Barriers in Medicare Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
No full textD.N.P
Eternal Light by Jack Meltsner
No full text"Eternal Light” tells the powerful and inspiring stories of two Holocaust survivors, Suly Chenkin and Irving Bienstock. Their testimonies provide a firsthand account of the horrors they endured during one of humanity's darkest periods. They persevered to positively impact the world leaving a legacy behind as an American Military veteran and Holocaust educators. The documentary weaves together music, archival materials, graphics and interviews to create a compelling narrative capturing the essence of their resilience and determination to not only survive, but to thrive and leave a lasting impact on the world.
The Documentary preserves the stories of Holocaust survivors and analyzes the persistence of antisemitism. It promotes tolerance, empathy and acts as an educational tool to combat antisemitism and discrimination today
The Efficacy of Blue Light in Decreasing Physiological Fear Responses
No full textMental health issues involving the psychological concept of fear conditioning are rapidly increasing in prevalence among today’s society. Fear conditioning commonly affects individuals in the form of GAD, PTSD, and specific phobias. Specific phobias elicit irrational fear in individuals when there is no apparent threat present. Specific phobias can decrease an individual’s quality of life by preventing them from engaging in activities and occupying certain environments. Blue light has been found to increase serotonin levels, which are relatively low in individuals exhibiting anxiety. The purpose of this study was to determine if blue light therapy decreased physiological fear responses in individuals experiencing specific phobias. Using ECG, respiration, and pupil dilation an individual’s physiological fear response was measured upon exposure to a fear-inducing stimulus. Blue light therapy was then administered for 30 minutes, and physiological readings were collected a second time. Final analysis was conducted utilizing t-test methods. Blue light was found to be effective in deceasing pupil dilation for all participants, however, its efficacy for vascular measures was only found in female participants. Nitric oxide sensitivity in males may account for differing results
Exploring Protective Factors Against Adverse Childhood Experiences in Primary Care: A Systematic Review Based on Ungar's Socio-Ecological Resiliency Model
No full textAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) profoundly impact physical and mental health throughout one's lifespan. While research reports on the assessment of ACEs in primary care (PC), less is known about protective factors – crucial for fostering resilience. Using Ungar’s Socio-ecological resilience model, this systematic review investigated how protective factors are assessed within PC screening for ACEs and their potential to influence patient/health outcomes. PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL from database inception were searched up until September 30, 2022. The study included research without language or country restrictions. A comprehensive search strategy across multiple databases yielded 764 initial studies. Following duplicate removal and a two-stage review process with the inter-rater agreement (Cohen's κ = .583, .677), 27 articles met the inclusion criteria. Screened for ACEs, patients were also assessed for at least one protective factor. Studies varied widely in the specific protective factors that were measured. Based on Ungar’s model of resilience, individual factors such as relationships, identity, and power/control were frequently assessed, in addition to community/social factors such as cohesion, material resources, and social justice. Only two articles meaningfully addressed cultural adherence. These findings reveal potential gaps in understanding how certain protective factors may promote better biopsychosocial-spiritual health for patients in PC settings, especially within diverse cultural contexts. This review highlights the need for PC research to broaden its focus on a wider spectrum of protective factors, addressing their potential to mitigate the effects of ACEs. It underscores the importance of Ungar's Socio-ecological model for its comprehensiveness yet calls for more culturally sensitive assessment tools and interventions. Understanding which protective factors are most potent within PC settings could enable targeted support and optimize patient health outcomes
Assessing the current status of and developing best practices in the delivery of sexual and gender minority content in PA education: a mixed methods approach
No full textBackground: A strategy aimed at reducing the health disparities experienced by sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations is to ensure health care providers are well equipped to care for them. There is a gap in the health professions literature addressing best practices for delivering this content in training. This research aims to assess the current status of and to identify PA educator beliefs about best practices in the delivery of SGM content in PA education.
Methods: This mixed methods study was guided by queer theory and curricular development practices. Quantitative data was obtained through a survey sent to all US PA programs in 2021. Questions addressed amount, delivery, and importance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, (LGBTQ) content and how well students are prepared to care for LGBTQ patients. Data was analyzed with bivariate and multivariate methods. Qualitative data was obtained through 5 focus groups with expert PA educators exploring their perceptions about best practices in the delivery of SGM content in PA education. Focus groups were conducted from April to May 2024. Content analysis was completed by 2 coders using both inductive and deductive methods. A comparison of results from quantitative and qualitative analyses was conducted to evaluate for convergence.
Results: The questionnaire had a 71.8% response rate (204 out of 284 responded) and showed that the majority of PA programs teach between 1 to 3 hours on each LGBTQ content area and integrate the content throughout their curricula. Multivariate analyses showed increased odds of having adequately or well-prepared students with knowledgeable faculty members (AOR=6.16; 95% CI 2.97, 12.78) and teaching more than 3 hours of LGBTQ+ content (AOR=5.20; 95% CI 95% 1.60, 16.82). Qualitative analyses revealed expert PA educator beliefs about best practices including topics to include in the curricula, ideal teaching approaches, necessary student competencies, and barriers and facilitators to inclusion of SGM content.
Conclusion: Convergence of findings resulted in 8 consensus best practices for the inclusion of SGM content in PA education. PA education accreditation standards require the inclusion of SGM content in PA education and findings from this study may serve as a guide for evaluating and integrating content