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Cyber Crime and Limiting Online Child Predation: A Comprehensive Examination
No full textIn today's digital world, technology has transformed how society functions and communicates. While these advancements make it easier for people to connect and access information, they also increase the risk of online child predation. The widespread use of the internet as a platform for socializing and sharing information has created an environment where illegal activities like cybercrime endanger vulnerable groups. To reduce the risks and consequences of these criminal acts, revisions to legislation and improved support for minors are essential. This paper examines the link between cybercrime and the pressing need to decrease online child predation
Survey of Nutrition Education Requirements for CCNE Accredited Baccalaureate Nursing Programs
No full textThe present survey investigated the nutrition course requirements of CCNE-accredited baccalaureate programs within the United States regarding their placement in the curriculum as a prerequisite course, curriculum course, both, or neither based upon course title. The public webpages of select CCNE-accredited baccalaureate nursing programs (n=146) in nine randomly identified states were surveyed regarding their plan of study and the inclusion of a nutrition course. Schools were also evaluated on inclusion of requirements based upon institution type. Most schools had only a designated nutrition course as a prerequisite in their plan of study. Furthermore, diversity in program requirements was consistent throughout program types
Assigning virtue: Uncovering the personal, bureaucratic, and disciplinary virtues in the writing assignment guidelines used by Graduate Teaching Assistants at East Carolina University
No full textWriting assignment guidelines are an important but often overlooked marker of teacherly identity. While they are deployed by individual instructors, they sit at an important juncture of individual, bureaucratic, and disciplinary virtues. Using this virtue ethics lens, I examine writing assignment guidelines produced between 2014 and 2023 by graduate teaching assistants at East Carolina University. I identify a virtue of rhetorical awareness as well as moral habits of conversation, grammar, and process and demonstrates the way GTAs communicate virtues through their major writing assignment guidelines
Phytochemicals Confer Neuroprotection in Models of Contaminant-induced Neurodevelopmental Disorders
No full textPhytochemicals that target antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways have gained attention as promising interventions for mitigating oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Many neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), are linked to oxidative stress-driven disruptions in neural development. Among the many contributing factors, fetal exposure to environmental insults including maternal infection, pollution, and pharmaceuticals increase oxidative stress and the likelihood of ASD development. The response to cellular oxidative stress is regulated in part by the transcription factor Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-related Factor 2 (NRF2), which promotes phase II enzyme and antioxidant gene expression. The work described in this dissertation investigates the neuroprotective potential of two phytochemicals, sulforaphane and cannabidiol (CBD), focusing on their ability to activate the NRF2 pathway. Using human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, we modeled the susceptibility of early brain development to the toxicant valproic acid (VPA) in vitro with parallel assessment in primary mouse cultures. Sulforaphane robustly activates NRF2-mediated antioxidant responses, mitigating VPA-induced oxidative stress and synaptic alterations. In contrast, CBD recruits NRF2 to the nucleus without increasing transcription of antioxidant genes, but may promote neuroprotection through the suppression of neuroinflammatory pathways. Our continuing work, influenced by the growing recognition of the role of neuroinflammation in neurodevelopmental disorders, explores how phytochemicals modulate inflammatory responses. Ultimately, these findings contribute to our understanding of how NRF2 activators and the regulation of oxidative stress and inflammation can be harnessed as potential preventative strategies to combat environmental exposures that increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders
Complete search strategies for "School Connectedness and School Nursing Services: A Concept Analysis", McCabe & Pestaner, et al., 2025
No full textComplete systematic search strategies for "School Connectedness and School Nursing Services: A Concept Analysis", McCabe & Pestaner, et al., 2025. Searches performed in January 2025. Databases included: PsycINFO via EBSCOhost, CINAHL via EBSCOhost, Education Research Complete via EBSCOhost, and ERIC via ProQuest
How Neighborhood Community Centers May Play a Role in Improving Maternal Health Outcomes
No full textThe United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries, with Black women facing the highest rates (69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births), which is 2.6 times higher than for White women. Research suggests physical activity (PA) during pregnancy can reduce health disparities and improve outcomes. However, lack of access to community centers and green spaces limits PA, contributing to worsened health outcomes for both mother and baby. This study aims to pilot an intervention using neighborhood community centers in Pitt County, North Carolina, to increase physical activity and improve maternal health outcomes among pregnant women. It also seeks to improve maternal health outcomes using focus groups and program evaluations. Participants were recruited by Blue Cross Blue Shield for the Birth and Bloom Healthy Pregnancy Initiative program through flyers and word of mouth. The pilot program included 7 adult women, and these women were surveyed via REDCap. The survey collected demographic information, including gender, race, ethnicity, income, education level, and weeks of pregnancy. and physical activity frequency and intensity. The racial demographic of the surveyed participants was primarily Black women (72%; n-=5), with the remaining participants being White (14%; n=1) and Hispanic (14%; n=1). Seventy-one percent of participants engaged in physical activity during pregnancy, while 29% did not. Analysis of responses from the final evaluation forms showed that 100% of participants found the program enjoyable and informative. They believed it would help them remain physically active and increase their confidence in staying active. Themes from the focus group discussion included experiencing fellowship and social support, building new relationships, and feeling confident in their pregnancy education. Implementing this program at the Eppes Community Center addresses the barrier of limited green space and outdoor areas by providing women with a safe, accessible space to engage in physical activity and receive education without financial strain. An intervention combining physical activity and education, while utilizing the neighborhood and built environment, would better equip pregnant women with the tools for a successful pregnancy and may help reduce maternal mortality and morbidity rates
Barriers to Resistance Training in College Women
No full textThis study examined the barriers college women faced in engaging in strength training at fitness facilities in similar numbers to male students, thus showing the needs of women regarding college campus recreation spaces. Understanding the barriers of resistance training for women allows for a future intervention that will aim to increasing the number of women engaging in resistance training. This study recruited from multiple universities and determined what encouraged college-aged women to strength train and what may not have encouraged college-aged women to strength train.
Participants were recruited through email, flyer, and social media across multiple universities (N = 33). Demographic measures included age, race, grade classification, university currently attended, weight, height, zip code, Greek life affiliation, first generation, residential category (on-campus, off-campus, or commuter), major, and career goals. In the previous exercise experience section, participants were asked if they currently exercised, as well as how many times per week they utilized a fitness facility. In the barriers to strength training section, participants rated 12 questions (adapted from Peters et al., 2018) on a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being strongly disagree, and 5 being strongly agree. These statements covered social, time, physical, and experiential barriers. SPSS descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. The barriers to strength training data was analyzed using mean and standard deviation of total responses.
The most prominent category of barriers among participants were time. The largest individual barrier was “I feel uncomfortable in a crowded gym” (4.1 ± 1.1). The least impactful category of barriers was experiential. The least impactful single barrier was “my friends will think I’m weird” (1.7 ± 0.8). The mean and standard deviation of each barrier type was measured. Social barriers had a mean and standard deviation of 3.2 ± 1.4. Time barriers had a mean and standard deviation of 3.5 ± 1.0. Physical barriers had a mean and standard deviation of 3.3 ± 1.2. Finally, experiential barriers had a mean and standard deviation of 2.9 ± 1.4.
Resistance training has several benefits regarding mental health, cardiovascular health, body composition, and other significant health markers. By understanding that time, or perceived time, is the most prominent barrier for college aged-women resistance training, more effective interventions could be staged to create a healthier community. Creating new ways to get women more involved in resistance training begins with understanding the needs of the population. From this research, a better understanding of the current barriers to RT in college women can allow for changes in the way Universities market their fitness facilities. By focusing on the positive impact short bouts of exercise and resistance training have on mental and physical health, more women may be encouraged to use the facilities for resistance training. The least perceived barrier from this study was experiential. Currently, funds and marketing efforts are largely spent on experiential barriers. By redirecting some of these funds and efforts to education regarding shorter bouts of exercise, and how to fit them into a working day, a greater impact could be achieved
Association Between Sleep, Cognitions about Sleep, and Executive Functioning in a College Student Sample: The Moderating Role of Dysfunctional Beliefs
No full textSleep is essential for mental and physical health. However, as pursuing college begets new opportunities for independent living, social activities, and work/school responsibilities, undergraduate students frequently experience disruptions in sleep patterns, leading to a sleep deficit. Previous research has highlighted the negative impact of sleep deficits on daily functioning and academic performance. However, there is limited research examining how dysfunctional beliefs about sleep might influence the relationship between sleep and executive functioning. Harvey's Cognitive Model of Insomnia elucidates how dysfunctional sleep cognitions can significantly contribute to the development and maintenance of sleep difficulties through their instigation of unhelpful sleep-related behaviors (i.e. clock watching, catastrophizing, etc.). Therefore, this study aimed to address the existing gap in the literature by examining how negative sleep cognitions might moderate the relationship between sleep quantity/quality and executive functioning college students. Further, although executive functioning is often regarded as one comprehensive domain, literature has shown that it can be divided into three distinct components: inhibition (one's ability to resist automatic impulses), working memory (one's ability to hold and manipulation information in one's mind), and cognitive flexibility (one's ability to switch between different tasks and adapt to changing rules/situations). Upon studying these different components, research has shown that each component is impacted by sleep in a unique way. With this in mind, the present study aimed to expand prior literature by conducting exploratory analysis on the impact of sleep quality/quantity and dysfunctional sleep cognitions on the three components of executive functioning. Further, exploratory moderation analyses were run to assess the impact of dysfunctional sleep cognitions on the relationship between sleep and the three distinct facets of executive functioning. In accordance with the literature, it was hypothesized that both sleep duration and sleep quality would be positively correlated with executive functioning abilities. It was also hypothesized that dysfunctional sleep beliefs would moderate the relationship between sleep duration/quality and executive functioning. The hypotheses were partially supported. The results revealed no significant associations between sleep duration or insomnia severity and objective executive functioning. However, both sleep duration and insomnia severity were significantly correlated with subjective executive functioning. In moderation analyses, dysfunctional sleep beliefs did not significantly affect objective executive functioning or moderate the relationship between insomnia severity and subjective executive functioning. However, these beliefs did moderate the relationship between sleep duration and subjective executive functioning; this pattern remained consistent across the facets of inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and working memory. Regarding specific predictors, sleep duration was found to influence overall subjective executive functioning, but not any of the specific executive functioning facets, suggesting that other factors may have a stronger influence on the individual components. In fact, the primary factor found to exert its effect over these three components was dysfunctional beliefs about sleep. However, this predictor effect, as well as any moderation effect, diminished when insomnia severity was included in the model, which may indicate that insomnia severity accounts for much of the variance attributed to dysfunctional sleep beliefs. Insomnia severity itself had a strong impact on perceived executive functioning, and when dissected, on the facets of inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility. However, insomnia severity did not significantly predict working memory scores, which may suggest that working memory may be more resistant to the effects of sleep disturbances and dysfunctional sleep beliefs. Clinical implications of these results are discussed, and future directions of this research are encouraged in order to continue growing the literature regarding the complex relationship between these variables
DETERMINATION OF PATIENT SPECIFIC S-VALUES CORRELATED WITH NONINVASIVE PATIENT ATTRIBUTES
No full textIntroduction: Nuclear medicine procedures are the second largest source of medical ionizing radiation, behind only computed tomography. The current population has been exposed to medical imaging more than previous generations, therefore knowledge of absorbed dose (ionizing) is not only an important component of patient care, but may have epidemiological implications as well. Unlike other modalities, in nuclear medicine a clinician can often decrease the patient’s administered activity at the expense of extending the acquisition time, administration therefore is not a binary decision . It should be noted radionuclide dosimetry can be accurately calculated if sufficient data is available. However, in most cases crucial information such as uptake, biokinetics and anatomical details cannot or will not be known a priori. Furthermore, the dosimetric process is often arduous, requiring intensive resources with respect to personnel and technology. Convenient models based on MIRD formalism have been developed to overcome the aforementioned challenges. Unfortunately, the models are not patient specific which causes inaccuracies, one such shortcoming centers around spatial variances. In the MIRD schema S values denote the mean absorbed dose to a target volume (organ) per unit activity in a source region (organ). The S values are based on phantom models for specific radionuclides, in the MIRD schema they are separable from the kinetic aspects of nuclear medicine. To improve patient specific nuclear medicine dosimetry S values will be determined for patients directly. The analysis will be conducted for radionuclides of interest and select organs. The range of organ S values will be examined to determine the need of personalization and its possible benefit. The results will be benchmarked against modern phantom models (dosimetric software), with the goal of personalizing phantom results through the utilization of basic patient attributes.
Methods: To evaluate the variances between the S-values of patients and phantoms, one needs diagnostic images. The gold standard modality of anatomical imaging is computed tomography. Fifty-six patient computed tomography exams were made available by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), along with information regarding the patient’s sex, age, height and weight. The patient images were de-identified prior, the clinical images contained the structures of the Chest, Abdomen and Pelvis of persons. The diagnostic images (CT) were segmented by TotalSegmentator which is a deep learning model, resulting in various structures. These structures were used to in part to create a source distribution and a lattice model for Monte Carlo implementation. The source energies and yields regarding emission was obtained from ICRP 107. Radiation transport is one of the areas that has greatly benefited from Monte Carlo methods. The Monte Carlo simulations conducted in this work utilize MCNP 6.2 which is a general-purpose, continuous-energy, generalized-geometry, time-dependent, Monte Carlo radiation transport code. The S values were calculated for a number of target organs (spleen, kidneys, pancreas, stomach, liver and lungs) resulting from activity in the patient’s kidneys for (Tc-99m, F-18, Lu-177 and I-131). The results were compared and benchmarked versus NCINM a modern dosimetry program based in part on phantom models. Results: The variation of S values for adult target organs were found to significant. The variation between the minimum and maximum S values for patients ranged from a two-fold to a five-fold factor and therefore supports the need for personalization. Benchmarking the S values with NCINM revealed in most cases the phantoms were contained within the patient’s distribution if not centered, which adds to the simulation’s credibility. The patient specific values were normalized to their appropriate NCINMphantom models. Significant correlation was found between the patient’s BMI and their normalized S values irrespective of radionuclide. The correlation is believed to be due to internal shielding. Based on a linear fit the NCINM model was extended or personalized. This extension greatly reduced the variation between actual S values and the NCINM dosimetry model. The interquartile range of the distribution of most organ S values were decreased by 50 percent
Consistency in Clinical Reporting of Nasopharyngoscopy Findings: A Multisite Study
No full textVelopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) is caused by incomplete closure of the velum against the posterior pharyngeal wall during phonation and can cause speech to sound hypernasal. One of the most common imaging methods used to assess VPI is nasopharyngoscopy. However, there are inconsistencies in what is being measured and reported in clinical reports. The International Working Group proposed guidelines for the standardization of clinical scope reports, but these guidelines were not universally adopted. This has resulted in inconsistencies in data reported between cleft teams.
148 clinical scope reports were collected and deidentified from 13 cleft teams. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the proportion of reports that followed the International Working Group’s recommendations.
The International Working Group recommended reports include the extent of velar movement, left and right lateral pharyngeal wall (LPW) movement, total percent closure, and the closure pattern. 73.5% (n=109) of reports included the degree of velar movement, 37.8% (n=56) included left and right LPW movement, 73.6% (n=109) reported the total percent closure, and 87.2% (n=129) included the closure pattern. Only 35.1% (n148-52=52) included all four measures. Despite the differences in the measures reported, 65.5% (n=97) of reports recommended a specific surgery to correct the patient’s VPI.
The analysis of clinical scope reports revealed variability across cleft teams. Standardizing the information included and how it is reported in scope reports would allow teams to compare treatment outcomes and expanded opportunities for multisite research. By improving consistency in clinical scope reports, cleft teams could increase their quality of patient care