Athena Commons - Digital Repository of Mississippi University for Women
Not a member yet
2174 research outputs found
Sort by
Phage Peptide Technology to Characterize Extracellular Vesicles in the Brain Tumors
Full text linkExtracellular vesicles (EV) are lipid-bound containers derived from the endosomal membrane network or from the extracellular membrane of cells. They can carry proteins, lipids, miRNAs, and other molecules, and may be involved in intercellular communication via membrane-associated proteins. Glioblastomas (GBM) are aggressive cancers of the brain and spinal cord derived from astrocytes. Extracellular vesicles derived from glioblastomas can make their way through the blood brain barrier and find their way to different bodily fluids, and so could serve as biomarkers for this cancer. We have isolated phage-display peptides from a commercial library of random phage-displayed peptides that will bind glioblastoma extracellular vesicles (GBM-EVs). We compared dose-response ELISA quantification of phage-display peptides bound to extracellular vesicles from glioblastomas to phage-mediated real-time immuno-PCR. Real-time immuno-PCR is a powerful technique that combines ELISA with the specificity and sensitivity of PCR. Both techniques had a hard time distinguishing GBM-EV-binding phage from control phage, but preliminary results indicated that real-time immuno-PCR had a higher sensitivity at low concentrations
Emotional Intelligence, Millennial Management, & Genetation Z Employees: How Millennials Have Emerged as the Most Emotionally Intelligent Generation of Managers
Full text linkAs Gen Z enters the workforce and is challenging the status quo, best practices of management and leadership of direct reports with emotional intelligence is becoming a growing issue in U.S. corporations. This study explores the relationship between emotional intelligence elements of emotional self-awareness, emotional management of others, emotional reasoning, emotional self-control, along with the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on emotional intelligence. The approach for this research is a quantitative, correlational method and utilized an online survey to assess a random sample of 103 U.S. based managers from various industries and generations. The final data set included 11 Baby Boomers, 16 Gen Xers, 68 Millennials, and 8 Gen Zers. Results indicate that Millennials score higher in three of the four types of emotional intelligence traits. Results should enhance the notion of emotional intelligence traits among multigenerational leadership and have practical significance for organizations’ concern about objectively identifying and developing potential leadership talent. Implications for leadership practice and policy are discussed, and suggestions for future research are provided
Primary Care Provider Knowledge and Utilization of the BEERS Criteria for the Prevention and Management of Polypharmacy in the Elderly
Full text linkThe establishment of guidelines focusing on the specific challenges and the clinical consequences of polypharmacy in the elderly population is a known research deficit. Throughout three semesters, this study has been conducted to identify primary care providers knowledge and practices regarding polypharmacy in the elderly, specifically in regard to the BEERS criteria. No standard definition exists for polypharmacy and creates a large barrier for universal healthcare. Nola Pender’s Health Promotion Model was used to guide the procedures of this study. Implementation of the project included obtaining consent from the Mississippi University for Women Institutional Review Board. Surveys were dispersed to primary care providers in the state of Mississippi. The data was gathered from 65 provider surveys who met the criteria to evaluate their knowledge and utilization of the BEERs criteria in the prevention and management of polypharmacy in the elderly. The researchers utilized a descriptive, quantitative survey design to assess the provider’s knowledge and current practices related to polypharmacy. Data from this research project was collected from a convenience sample of Nurse Practitioners, Physicians, and Physician Assistants who practice in a primary care setting. After collecting these surveys, the researchers were able to analyze the general knowledge and practices that the healthcare providers participated in. The design of this study was appropriate given limited time to collect data, participant accessibility, and the possibility of gaining relevant information through a survey method. Providers were found to be familiar with the BEERS criteria but gaps were found in the proficient utilization of the BEERS criteria. Although most providers in MS were knowledgeable of the BEERS criteria, there is a large percentage of providers who are note. A lack of a standard 8 definition of polypharmacy could contribute to these gaps. With the rising geriatric population, polypharmacy is expected to overwhelm the current healthcare processes. There is little documented research regarding polypharmacy, adverse drug reactions, and how to manage it. Tools have been created to help providers recognize and reduce polypharmacy as well as potential adverse reactions as a result of polypharmacy. The negative health outcomes and financial burdens are well documented, but no formal guidelines have been established. This is a result of lack of knowledge and awareness with polypharmacy prevention practices. More research is needed to develop a formal definition to define what constitutes appropriate and inappropriate use of polypharmacy and standardized practices for management and prevention
Disappearing Women Between College and STEM Leadership
Full text linkSTEM is an evolving and ever-growing world with innovations in technology being designed. With the evolution of technology comes assessing the people developing the technology. The people creating and working in technology evolving and growing with diversity? We will look at one aspect of diversity with women to see how they have advanced in STEM. Women have increased in working on college degrees in STEM. We will evaluate the progress of women in the STEM leadership role. With research on women moving into leadership in STEM and what challenges women could be facing working in STEM
Screening for Social Determinants of Health in Primary Care
Full text linkSocial determinants of health (SDoH) can increase patient morbidity and mortality. Providers that utilize screening tools in primary care can give insight into patients’ needs and coordinate potential resources within the community. Many social factors affect mortality, including socioeconomic status, level of education, poor social support, and racial segregation. These factors almost equal the number of deaths caused by health morbidities such as heart attacks, cardiovascular incidents, and lung cancer (Wark et al., 2021). Increasing awareness and knowledge of these issues with proper screening tools and community resources could improve health by building rapport and bringing light to resources needed by patients. (Drake et al., 2021). Understanding the screening process performed by patients’ primary care providers across multiple settings provides insight into barriers of optimal health. It can show the positive effects of implementing clinical practice changes such as screening to decrease adverse patient outcomes. The project aimed to elicit responses from 500 providers, including medical doctors, nurse practitioners, doctors of osteopathy, and physician assistants across central and eastern Mississippi, using a quantitative questionnaire regarding their use of SDoH screening tools. Utilizing SDoH screening tools in primary care allows for further questioning regarding referral processes and understanding specific patients’ SDoH needs. The researchers assumed that primary care providers do not utilize a standard screening tool or routinely implement changes to management plans based on positive screenings for SDoH. The researchers of this study also considered multiple practice barriers within the primary care setting that could potentially prevent providers from implementing necessary patient accommodation
Facilitators and Barriers to Nurse Practitioners’ Full Practice Authority in Primary Care in Mississippi
Full text linkNurse practitioners in the state of Mississippi are currently required to maintain a collaborating agreement with a physician to practice, despite being educated and obtaining national certification. This limitation of practice further limits patients from obtaining healthcare, especially in rural communities. The present study examined the effects that current practice restrictions have on nurse practitioners providing primary care to patients in the state of Mississippi amid a physician shortage. Surveys were distributed to primary care providers, including nurse practitioners and physicians throughout the state of Mississippi, and a total of 14 physicians (MDs and DOs) and 146 nurse practitioners responded to the survey. Survey results revealed that almost half of the NPs who responded have either considered leaving the field of nurse practitioner or have considered relocating to a full practice authority state due to state restrictions in Mississippi, which would decrease access to primary care even further. The study also revealed that of the nurse practitioners that responded to the survey, the majority stated they rarely consulted with their collaborating physician. This causes an increase in expenses for the nurse practitioner and proves to be yet another barrier in accessing care
Computational Evaluation of Bioactive Compounds from Vaccinium vitis-idaea L (Ligonberry) for Treating KRAS-associated Lung Cancer
Full text linkLung cancer is the cancer of the lung\u27s epithelial cells typically characterized by difficult breathing, chest pain, blood-stained coughs, headache, and weight loss. If left unmanaged, lung cancer can spread to other body parts. While several treatment methods exist for managing lung cancer, exploring natural plant sources for developing therapeutics offers great potential in complementing different treatment approaches. In this study, we concentrated on inhibiting the mutated Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) by targeting an associated protein (Phosphodiesterase 6δ) to which KRAS form complexes. We evaluated bioactive compounds from Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L), adopting computational approaches such as molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, molecular mechanics/generalized Born surface area (MM/GBSA) calculations, and pharmacokinetics analysis. A total of 26 out of 39 bioactive compounds of Vaccinium vitis-idaea L had a higher binding affinity to the target receptor than the approved drug, Sotorasib. Further, the pharmacokinetics properties of the lead compounds were examined, and the best four compounds, namely, (+) – Catechin (Cianidanol), Arbutin, Resveratrol, and Sinapic acid, were further subjected to molecular dynamic simulation. In conclusion, Arbutin (+) – Catechin and Sinapic acid are predicted to be the best compound of Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. because of their pharmacokinetic properties and drug-likeness attributes. Also, their stability to the target receptor makes them a potential drug candidate that could be explored for treating KRAS-mutation-associated lung cancer
Antagonistic Pleiotropy in Alzheimer\u27s Disease
No full textApolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele has been linked with Alzheimer’s disease; specifically having two copies of the APOE ε4 allele greatly increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in older age. Studies have attempted to relate an antagonistic pleiotropy hypothesis to this gene, i.e., the ε4 allele has positive effects on cognition and memory in early life and negative effects later in life. Many of these studies have had several limitations and conflicting results, such as testing adults in upper middle age or comparing the absence of the ε4 allele with the presence of at least one ε4 allele. Studies showed that having two copies of the ε4 allele has the highest risk of developing Alzheimer’s in older age, comparing the presence of one ε4 versus none skews the results. Testing older adults does not allow for proper conclusions about the antagonistic pleiotropy hypothesis. The objective of this study is to determine if the APOE ε4 allele has an effect on cognition and memory before the onset of Alzheimer’s when compared to other variants of the APOE gene. We will use reliable methods to test attention, memory, and executive function in all variants of the APOE gene (ε2ε2, ε3ε3, ε3ε4, and ε4ε4) in healthy adults with an age range of 18-30. The results of this study will offer a better understanding of the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and allow for more in-depth studies on progression with two copies of the APOE ε4 allele
Triazole compounds – Potentials in the treatment of cystic fibrosis
Full text linkCystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease that affects the respiratory and digestive system and is most common among Caucasians of Northern European origin. CF is caused by mutations in a membrane protein CFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane-conductance Regulator). This mutation impairs the membrane protein’s chloride ion channel function. One of the most common CFTR mutations is the DF508 mutation that affects over 70% of CF cases. Our research has shown that the DF508-CFTR mutation can be partially reversed by physical and chemical means [Heda & Marino, BBRC, 271:659-664, 2000]. In cell lines expressing DF508-CFTR, synthetic anion carriers have shown to augment the chloride ion channel function (Yang et al. J. Biol. Chem.,1278(37) : 35079-35085, 2003). In this study, we use triazole compounds, synthesized in Talukdar lab (IISER, Pune, India), to determine their effects on DF508-CFTR upregulation. These compounds are known for their ability to bind and facilitate chloride influx to cultured cell lines. Methods: Human lung epithelial cell lines (CFBE) transfected with DF508-CFTR were cultured and treated with various concentrations of triazole compounds (ABS-089, PJ-08) at 27 degrees for 60 hours. Cell lysates were then prepared and immunoblotted with anti-CFTR antibody and CFTR-specific signal was detected by chemiluminescence using c300 image analyzer (Azure Biosystems). Results: Both tested compounds showed an increase in the CFTR band-B when compared to the vehicle alone. Conclusion: Our research suggests triazole compounds could potentially be used as therapeutic agents for Cystic Fibrosis treatment