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Scholars and Changemakers: The Vital Role of Graduate Students in Campus Women\u27s Centers
Full text linkOn college campuses, Women’s Centers serve as a safe space for many marginalized students, faculty, and staff members across campus. These Centers are active spaces that serve a wide variety of individuals including graduate students who play multifaceted roles that are essential to the Center’s work. These students contribute significantly to the functioning of the Center while also gaining professional and personal development from their involvement. In this article, we reflect on our own experiences as two graduate students working within a campus-based Women’s Center while simultaneously integrating literature on the function of graduate students within these spaces. Employing a dual auto-ethnographic methodology, we engage in joint analysis and writing, arguing that graduate students are crucial members of Women’s Centers who benefit not only the students that utilize the Center, but also other staff, faculty, and the graduate students themselves
Edge Feathering Across Forest-Meadow Ecotones Increases Light Heterogeneity and Understory Plant Diversity
Full text linkEcotones, the transitional zones between distinct habitats, are vital for ecosystem functioning and habitat diversity. Traditional management practices frequently create abrupt boundaries, leading to stressful conditions for organisms. To address this challenge, an underutilized land management technique called “edge feathering”, which involves gradual thinning of the canopy along the forest edge, has been introduced. This study, con- ducted at Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio, investigated the effects of edge feathering on light availability and understory plant diversity in edge feathered and control treatments. We calculated the coefficient of variation in light availability as light heterogeneity and plant diversity indices at the plot level. Edge feathering increased light heterogeneity by more than 2.5-fold. It also significantly increased biodiversity, yielding twice the species richness and approximately 1.5 times higher Shannon and Simpson’s Diversity (1/D) in- dices compared to unmanaged control plots. Furthermore, greater light heterogeneity exhibited a strong positive correlation with increased understory plant diversity. These effects were observed within just 3.5 years of implementation, underscoring the rapid and measurable benefits of edge feathering for plant community diversity. Our results further suggest the hypothesis that light heterogeneity might be an important driver of small-scale plant community diversity in this system, which could be tested directly in the future
Seeking Healthcare in Many Different Places: Mental Health Strengths and Challenges Among Omani Female Adolescents
Full text linkBackground: Adolescents undergo overwhelming physiological, psychological, social, and cognitive changes. The stress can be worse when they must meet cultural expectations. However, there is a paucity of literature regarding the cultural impact on adolescent mental health. Purpose: The phenomenological study aimed to describe Omani female adolescents\u27 lived experiences with mental health issues within their cultural context and future well-being. Methods: The study employed semi-structured individual interview questions using a secured videoconferencing Zoom meeting. The participants were recruited using purposive sampling. The participants included single female Omani adolescents (aged: 18–24 years). A horizontalization analysis followed the transcription, translation, and backward translation process. Findings: Twelve participants were included which was the point of data saturation. The study\u27s findings revealed the following major themes: 1. The profound influence of Omani culture on female adolescent mental health; 2. The crucial impact of parenting on decision-making; 3. The sensitive issue of cultural taboo and 4. The alarming reality of mental health stigmatization. These findings underscore the urgent need for culturally relevant and age-appropriate interventions, emphasizing the potential impact of this study on the field. Conclusions: It is urgent that nurse leaders across levels (practice, education, research, and policy) actively collaborate with other stakeholders. Together, nurse leaders can initiate discussions and negotiations to reflect the health needs of Omani female adolescents through the development of protocols, interventions, guidelines, and policies that are culturally relevant and age-appropriate
Analyzing Labor Outcomes for Non-College-Educated Workers in the Presence of a Manufacturing Shock: A Case Study of Lee County, Mississippi
Full text linkAnti-ADAMTS13 Autoantibodies in Immune-Mediated Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Full text linkAutoantibodies to ADAMTS13 are at the center of pathology of the immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. These autoantibodies can be either inhibitory (enzymatic function) or non-inhibitory, resulting in protein depletion. Under normal physiologic conditions, antibodies are generated in response to foreign antigens, which can include infectious agents; however, these antibodies may at times cross-react with self-epitopes. This is one of the possible mechanisms mediating formation of anti-ADAMTS13 autoantibodies. The process known as “antigenic mimicry” may be responsible for the development of these autoantibodies that recognize and bind cryptic epitopes in ADAMTS13, disrupting its enzymatic function over ultra large von Willebrand factor multimers, forming the seeds for platelet activation and microthrombi formation. In particular, specific amino acid sequences in ADAMTS13 may lead to conformational structures recognized by autoantibodies. Generation of these antibodies may occur more frequently among patients with a genetic predisposition. Conformational changes in ADAMTS13 between open and closed states can also constitute the critical change driving either interactions with autoantibodies or their generation. Nowadays, there is a growing understanding of the role that autoantibodies play in ADAMTS13 pathology. This knowledge, especially of functional qualitative differences among antibodies and the ADAMTS13 sequence specificity of such antibodies, may make possible the development of targeted therapeutic agents to treat the disease. This review aims to present what is known of autoantibodies against ADAMTS13 and how their structure and function result in disease
Antipsychotic-Induced Weight Gain: What Have We Learned?
No full textPurpose and Scope of Review: We discuss updates in the weight gain risk stratification of various atypical antipsychotics, dose-dependency effects, the role of the gut microbiome in the mechanism of AWIG, and the potential of GLP-1 receptor agonists and antipsychotic switching in managing and mitigating the adverse effect of weight gain. These updates are organized into 3 sections: Prediction, Mechanism, and Treatment. Recent Findings: Different atypical antipsychotics are associated with different risk profiles for weight gain, and switching from higher to lower risk antipsychotics is a promising direction for mitigating this adverse effect. Other treatments that target weight gain in general, such as lifestyle modifications and GLP-1 agonists, are also effective in managing AWIG. The dose-dependent effect of atypical antipsychotics on weight varies by patient characteristics such as age and sex as well as medication factors such as duration of treatment. These differences require further study pry. Recent insights on the mechanism of AWIG highlight the importance of alterations in the gut microbiome, neurotransmitter-receptor interactions, appetite-regulating neuropeptides and hormones, and cell-signaling molecules such as adipokines and cytokines. Summary: This review provides insight into the mechanisms by which atypical antipsychotics contribute to weight gain, the risk factors that predict the degree of AIWG, and potential treatments to manage weight gain in patients receiving therapeutic benefit from atypical antipsychotics
Melanoma Detection, Treatment, Survival, and Mortality Through Year 2 of the Pandemic
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic affected the timely diagnosis and treatment of many cancers, including melanoma, the fifth most common cancer in the U.S. This study aimed to quantify the disruption and recovery of melanoma detection, treatment, survival, and mortality during the pandemic by analyzing data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program from 2000 to 2021. Our epidemiological analysis found that melanoma incidence initially dropped by 14.8% (95% CI: − 17.2 to − 12.4) in 2020 compared to pre-pandemic projections. Although incidence rates substantially recovered by 2021, an estimated 10,274 patients (95% CI: − 12,824 to − 7,724) remained undiagnosed due to pandemic-related disruptions. Time-to-treatment and 1-year survival were mostly consistent with pre-pandemic trends, while melanoma-specific mortality modestly declined by 4.5% (95% CI: − 14.6 to 5.6) in 2021, though this was statistically non-significant. These findings suggest that healthcare systems adapted to the challenges posed by the pandemic, maintaining essential cancer services. However, the significant drop in melanoma diagnoses likely contributed to the observed reduction in mortality. Thus, re-establishing care for patients missed during the pandemic will be crucial to preventing a future increase in advanced-stage melanoma and related deaths
Role of Autonomic Dysfunction in Initiating Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation in a Canine Sterile Pericarditis Model
No full textBackground: Autonomic dysfunction plays a significant role in initiating postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) by causing atrial ectopic triggers, potentially through mechanisms such as increased sympathetic activity and altered vagal tone. These atrial ectopic triggers can easily induce POAF, especially in the presence of vulnerable substrates such as pericardial inflammation or structural remodeling. Objective: To test the hypothesis that autonomic dysfunction causes atrial ectopic triggers or POAF in the canine sterile pericarditis model. Methods: Ten sterile pericarditis dogs were studied on postoperative Days 2−3. Autonomic dysfunction was induced by stellate ganglion nerve stimulation (SNS, 5–15 mA; 4–10 Hz; pulse width 0.5–5 ms) with or without vagus nerve stimulation (VNS, 15 mA; 20 Hz; pulse width 0.5–2 ms) performed during sinus rhythm for up to 2 h. Atrial ectopic triggers and heart rate (HR) were assessed during autonomic dysfunction. Results: Sustained POAF by burst pacing was induced in 5 of 10 animals (50%). During sinus rhythm (HR 109 ± 14 bpm), autonomic dysfunction using SNS (±VNS) changed the HR from 151 ± 18 bpm (SNS alone) to 72 ± 10 bpm (SNS+VNS) (mean HR fluctuation 79 ± 16 bpm). Atrial ectopic triggers were observed in 1 of 10 animals (10%), originating from either right or left atrium, yet these triggers did not induce POAF. Conclusion: Atrial ectopic triggers associated with autonomic dysfunction were observed in only 10% of animals in the postoperative period and did not induce POAF. The low incidence of atrial ectopic triggers in this model may provide mechanistic insights into the lower observed incidence of POAF in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) compared to those undergoing valvular heart surgery
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