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Tools to Increase Preservice Teacher Confidence While Discussing Controversial Identity Issues
No full textThis collaborative, descriptive research project in urban Texas looked at the at the development, implementation, and student perception of effectiveness of a multi-stage pedagogical intervention in a classroom to help preservice teachers become more confident during discussions of controversial identity issues; specifically, ableism, classism, heterosexism, racism, and sexism. Researchers developed classroom experiences based upon worldview threat and defense as well as mindfulness, using qualitative analytic strategies to “foresee” and “assert” the effectiveness of these experiences via mid- and end-point course evaluation surveys. Participants felt more confident and capable when talking to others with differing worldviews due to the experiences and tools provided
Fibroepithelial polyps causing obstructive hydronephrosis treated with pyeloplasty: A case report
No full textFibroepithelial polyps (FEP) are rare benign tumors urinary collecting system. Diagnosis is suspected on Computed Tomography (CT) and confirmed via histopathology. Treatment options vary from historic nephroureterectomy to more contemporary methods of ablation. Authors present a case of a symptomatic FEP causing left-sided hydronephrosis and episodic flank pain treated by a urologic surgeon. The patient underwent robotic pyeloplasty and excision of the tumors, yielding preserved renal function and resolution of the hydronephrosis
A Study And History Of The Development And Expansion Of The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex With A Commercial Real Estate Lens
No full textThis study performed in-depth analysis on the factors that caused the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to grow and become an area ripe for commercial real estate development and expansion, beginning at the conception and construction of the DFW International Airport through to present day. The focus of the study is mainly on the tangible, qualitative factors that are present, and while statistical data is included to support the claims made in the study, the main point is to research, analyze, and discuss the influences and factors that played, and continue to play, a role in the DFW commercial real estate market that cannot necessarily be quantified. Results of the study concluded that the main factors that contributed to the expansion of DFW were the construction and opening of the DFW International Airport, the major industries that expanded their operations to the metroplex, influential entrepreneurs and investors with vision who decided to invest in the area, and certain key events and advantages unique to Dallas and Fort Worth
Ranking undergraduate nursing student perceived stress using Q-methodology
No full textBackground: Stress in clinical settings creates unsafe patient conditions and causes poor nursing student performance. Stress during clinical experiences leads to unsafe conditions, negative learning outcomes, and mistakes. We know clinical causes stress, but a gap exists in how students rank various stressors.
Purpose: This research aimed to describe what nursing students report most stressful during clinical experiences.
Methods: Using Q-methodology, guided by the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, 52 undergraduate nursing students sorted 46 statements. Statements described Perceived Stress Scale and Nursing Student Stress Scale stressors or focus group responses. Participants sorted statements from most to least stressful using quasi-normal distribution grids, scored from 6 to -6. We analyzed data using Spearman correlation and centroid factor analysis with varimax rotation to identify viewpoints. Watts and Stenner?s methodology was used to qualitatively analyze viewpoints. We compared demographics using Chi-square or Mann-Whitney U. Limitations include method generalizability and homogenous sampling.
Results: Three main viewpoints emerged from the study, explaining 39% of study variance. Across the three distinct viewpoints, external, patient-related, and knowledge-based stressors were considered as the three biggest stress sources, respectively. All participants agreed nursing professionalism was moderately stressful in the clinical setting. External stressors included preceptor behaviors, instructor decisions, and nursing coursework. Difficult patient interactions and nursing roles characterized patient-related stress. Unfamiliarity with nursing skills and procedures created the most knowledge-based stress. There were significant degree entry and healthcare role experience differences.
Implications: This paper provides nurse educators with knowledge about what students rank most stressful during clinical experiences and may help in the reduction of stress and the identification of at-risk situations
Oral History Interview with L. Clifford Davis
No full textIn this interview, conducted ahead of his 100th birthday, L. Clifford Davis reflects on his childhood, education, and legal career, including his attempt to enter the University of Arkansas School of Law, his studies at Howard University, and his work in school integration and civil rights activism in North Texas
Lower Limb Cross-Over Effects on Postural Control: Impact of Proximal and Distal Muscle Fatigue
No full textThe purpose of this study was to examine the cross-over influence of lower limb fatigue on postural control. Using two experiments, cross-over fatigue was investigated using a proximal (Experiment 1—single-leg squat) and distal (Experiment 2—calf raise) muscle group. In Experiment 1, 15 healthy young participants underwent a single-leg standing task on both the right and left leg, with variations of having eyes open or closed and on stable or unstable surfaces, performing each task for 30 s. For Experiment 2, 20 individuals performed single-leg balance testing for the right and left leg and stable and unstable surfaces. Center-of-pressure data were collected during the balance tasks and were analyzed with linear (standard deviation) and nonlinear (detrended fluctuation analysis) metrics. The results lacked significant differences (p > 0.05) for cross-over fatigue effects on the non-exercised limb, which exhibited similar levels of postural sway between the pre- and post-fatigue balance tests. These tasks may have lacked an appropriate level of duration or intensity to cause a significant effect of central fatigue on the nervous system. The findings underscore the need to better understand how a specific fatiguing task during unilateral rehabilitation may alter postural control
The effects of diet composition on markers of inflammation in competitively trained cyclists
No full textFor endurance athletes to achieve success, many have adopted a mirage of training programs and nutritional strategies to improve performance; however, considering the risk of elite endurance athletes becoming overreached, it is important to consider the athletes’ immune status, and the effect nutrition can have on inflammation. The purpose of this study is to investigate and compare the effects of a habitual diet (HB), a high-carbohydrate diet (HCD) and a ketogenic diet (KD) on inflammation markers in trained competitive cyclists. This study utilized a randomized crossover trial in six competitively trained cyclists consuming a 2-week diet of the KD and HCD following their HB. Venous blood samples were taken during each diet condition at five time points (0-min, 30-min, 60-min, 120-min, and 180-min) during a resting period. Average concentrations of IL-6, IL-10, IL-8, and TNFα were analyzed using MSD Inflammatory Kit. The findings indicate that following a short period adaptation to the KD resulted in higher concentrations of IL-6 compared to HCD (p = 0.004) and HB (p = 0.004). There was an overall group effect for IL-10 (p = 0.049). Bonferroni-Holm analysis revealed the KD possessed higher levels of IL-10 compared to the HB (p = 0.131) and HCD (p = 0.079). No significant differences in inflammatory markers were observed between the high-carbohydrate diet and habitual diet. Moreover, no significant changes were observed for pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL-8 across all diet conditions. Cyclists should consider consuming a carbohydrate-rich diet prior to training, to attenuate the risk of suppressing the immune system, leading to an overreached state
Advancements in Remote Compressive Hyperspectral Imaging: Adaptive Sampling with Low-Rank Tensor Image Reconstruction
No full textWe advanced the practical development of compressive hyperspectral cameras for remote sensing scenarios with a design that simultaneously compresses and captures high-quality spectral information of a scene via configurable measurements. We built a prototype imaging system that is compatible with light-modulation devices that encode the incoming spectrum. The sensing approach enables a substantial reduction in the volume of data collected and transmitted, facilitating large-scale remote hyperspectral imaging. A main advantage of our sensing design is that it allows for adaptive sampling. When prior information of a survey region is available or gained, the modulation patterns can be re-programmed to efficiently sample and detect desired endmembers. Given target spectral signatures, we propose an optimization scheme that guides the encoding process. The approach severely reduces the number of required sampling patterns, with the ability to achieve image segmentation and correct distortions. Additionally, to decode the modulated data, we considered a novel reconstruction algorithm suited for large-scale images. The computational methodology leverages the multidimensional structure and redundant representation of hyperspectral images via the canonical polyadic decomposition of multiway arrays. Under realistic remote sensing scenarios, we demonstrated the efficiency of our approach with several data sets collected by our prototype camera and reconstructed by our low-rank tensor decoder
A Comparison of Lingual Pressure Generation Measures Using Two Devices in Community-Dwelling, Typically Aging Adults: An Important Clinical Implication
No full textDesign: A multisite, prospective, and randomized within-subject design study. Setting: Five university settings in varied geographical areas in the United States. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare lingual pressure generation using the Tongueometer (TO) and the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) in typically aging, community-dwelling adults during three measurement tasks: maximum isometric pressure (MIP), regular effort saliva swallow (RESS) pressure, and effortful saliva swallow pressure (ESP). Participants: Eighty-seven typically aging, community-dwelling adults (aged 55 years and over) with no self-reported history of swallowing or neurological disorders were recruited to complete this study. Results: Strong positive associations were found between the lingual pressure generation measures from the TO and IOPI in all tasks in typically aging adults, with Pearson correlations ranging from r = .780 to .874, p less than .001. Agreement between the devices (Lin's concordance correlation coefficient) ranged from moderate for the MIP (rho_c = .78) and ESP (rho_c = .61) tasks to weak agreement for the RESS task (rho_c = .47). MIP, RESS pressure, and ESP were lower when measured by the TO compared with the IOPI, p less than .001. Conclusions: The TO measures lingual pressure generation similarly to the IOPI but pressures register lower when using the TO than the IOPI in typically aging persons. This supports the need for developing normative values specific to the TO device or development of a valid and reliable conversion formula from TO to IOPI normative values. At this time, the clinical use of reference values from the TO should not be generalized to IOPI normative values
Improvements in the Cuff and Graft Interface with a Total Artificial Heart
No full textResearch Question: Our initial question was: are there TAH-graft interface irregularities which could lead to blood flow disruption?Background and Significance: Our objective was to evaluate design improvements of the inlet cuff-port and outlet graft-port interface of a Total Artificial Heart (TAH) on pannus formation. The orifice size, interface, blood flow path geometry, blood flow velocity, materials, surface finish, and hematologic parameters (such as anti-coagulants and anti-platelets) all contribute to the hemocompatibility of the TAH inflow and outflow. The focus of this work is the blood flow path geometry and material change. Practical application of this research involves progression of TAH as a method of treatment of potentially definitive treatment of heart failure, and as an extended bridge therapy until heart transplantation.Materials and Methods: The performance of progressive inflow and outflow design iterations of a rotary total artificial heart operated in continuous and pulsatile outflow were evaluated in Corriente calves for durations of 30 days. Design modifications included a smoother blood flow port transition, geometrical improvements to the diameter and tangent angle to the polyurethane connector/pump interface, and methods of securing the connection including a titanium ring on the cuff with biospan rings and PEEK zip ties on both the cuffs and grafts. The graft flow path includes a circumferential hump which allows the titanium outflow port to seat against this hump and eliminate a void which could be a source of thrombus or emboli. Additionally, the cuff and port materials were changed. Subjects were 6-12 month old calves with weights ranging from 82 kg to 108 kg, while conditions such as pump flow, pressures and anticoagulants were closely monitored. The TAH was run in pulsatile mode for most of the studies. At necropsy, photos of the cuff and graft interface to the pump were analyzed and any tissue samples were sent for histological evaluation.Results: A titanium ring on the cuff prevented the cuff from pulling away from the titanium port at the ostium and prevented the cuff from being pulled too far onto the port during surgical installation. Pannus formation at the interface of the cuff and graft to the titanium ports was graded from Absent (0) to Extreme (5), (Extreme equals >75% area reduction). In earlier design iterations, pannus formation at the inflow cuff or outflow graft interface ranged from (2) mild to (5) extreme. After implementing the design improvements, pannus was (0) absent in all inflow cuff interfaces. One graft that was not fully installed on the port had moderate buildup and the remainder had (0) absent to (1) minor at the outflow graft interface despite minimal anticoagulation.Conclusion: Improvements to the inflow cuff/outflow graft-port interface significantly reduced pannus and thrombus formation in chronic animal implants treated with limited anticoagulation