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Avian Habitat Use in a Chronosequence of Bottomland Hardwood Forest Restoration Sites
Get PDFSince the 1950s, anthropogenic activity has caused the loss of millions of hectares of bottomland hardwood forest in the Upper Mississippi River Valley, causing population declines in bird populations. Restoration of these forest stands has been ongoing for the past 2 decades. We assessed bird species presence on sites in the Upper Mississippi River Valley to quantify diversity and relate presence to habitat conditions and sites’ age since restoration. We observed higher mean diversities at mature bottomland-forest sites during the spring and autumn, but nested ANOVAs indicated no significant differences among restoration-age categories during spring. During the autumn, the 15–23-y and the mature bottomland-forest categories were significantly different from th
Smith and Hume on Animal Minds
Get PDFThis paper situates Hume’s views on animals in the context of the Scottish Enlightenment by contrasting them with the views of Adam Smith. While Smith is more central to the philosophical establishment of the Scottish Enlightenment, their views on morals resemble each other greatly and both think that the analogies between humans and non-human animals are useful for thinking about morals. Their estimation of the nature and extent of those analogies, however, differ widely from one another. This has been historically obscured by the fact that in no single work does Smith precisely detail what he thinks non-human animals are capable of. I argue that Smith thinks non-human animal minds are different in kind from human minds. This is evident from Smith’s view of how language facilitates and co-creates certain aspects of human cognition. Hume, by contrast, seems to hold that non-human animal minds differ merely by degree from human minds. After reconstructing Smith’s view, I contrast it with Hume’s, providing historical context to show how Hume falls outside the mainstream on this issue and Smith within it. Their views on animals reflect, broadly, their standing with respect to the wider Scottish philosophical community
Strong stability of a class of difference equations of continuous time and structured singular value problem
Get PDFThis article studies the strong stability of scalar difference equations of continuous time in which the delays are sums of a number of independent parameters tau_i, i = 1, 2, . . . ,K. The characteristic quasipolynomial of such an equation is a multilinear function of exp(-tau_i s). It is known that the characteristic quasipolynomial of any difference equation set in the form of one-delayper- scalar-channel (ODPSC) model is also in such a multilinear form. However, it is shown in this article that some multilinear forms of quasipolynomials are not characteristic quasipolynomials of any ODPSC difference equation set. The equivalence between local strong stability, the exponential stability of a fixed set of rationally independent delays, and the stability for all positive delays is shown, and relations with the structured singular value problem are presented. A procedure to determine strong stability in the special case of up to three independent delay parameters in finite steps is developed. This procedure means that the structured singular value problem in the case of up to three scalar complex uncertain blocks can be solved in finite steps
Iowa\u27s Original Ethanol Debate: The Power Alcohol Movement of 1933-1934
Get PDFDescribes an important effort to mandate the use of alcohol fuels for motor vehicles in Iowa during the Great Depression. Known the as the power alcohol movement, this was an important early debate in the nation\u27s ethanol or biofuels debate and set important precedents for later energy debates in Iowa and nationwide
Developing a Ketamine Infusion Protocol to Treat Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Get PDFComplex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) has been studied under different names dating back to the American Civil War. Despite being studied for over 100 years, CRPS is still not a very well understood disease process and there is no consensus on the best way to treat it (O’Connell, Wand, McAuley, Marston, & Moseley, 2016). One treatment that has shown to be effective in reducing pain scores in patients with chronic CRPS is a multiple day infusion of ketamine (Sigtermans et al., 2009). The purpose of this doctor of nursing practice project was to develop a ketamine infusion protocol for anesthesia providers at community hospital in the Midwest.
The implementation of this project was carried out through an educational inservice and evaluated using a short survey, which was filled out by the audience anonymously. Based upon the responses, it is reasonable to assume that this project can be effective in educating anesthesia providers on the topic of using ketamine infusions to treat CRPS. The protocol developed for this project can be used as a sample or guideline for facilities that are considering implementing a ketamine infusion protocol to treat CRPS. The protocol can be changed to fit the needs and constraints of a facility
Standardized Patient Handoff Tool
Get PDFPatient handoffs are defined as the transmission of information and accountability between teams and individuals. These handoffs can be periods of increased risk for the patient and increased errors among anesthesia providers and PACU nurses (Segall et al., 2012). The Joint Commission recommends healthcare providers improve patient handoff as a national goal (Robins & Dai, 2015). The purpose of this nursing doctoral project was to determine if using a standardized patient handoff tool could improve communication and satisfaction between anesthesiologists, CRNAs, and PACU nurses. A review of the current literature supported the need for a standardized patient handoff tool for anesthesia to PACU. The standardized patient handoff tool was developed for the adult surgical population in collaboration with the chief CRNA at St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital. Anesthesia providers and PACU nurses were educated on the current literature and how to utilize the standardized handoff tool. Pre- and post-implementation surveys were collected after using the standardized handoff tool for one month. This project confirmed that the use of a standardized handoff tool increased clarity, efficiency, and overall satisfaction with patient handoff in the majority of anesthesia providers and PACU nurses in this study setting. All participants agreed that using the standardized handoff tool made the patient handoff consistent and complete
A Retrospective Analysis of an Opiate Education and Naloxone Distribution Program
Get PDFAbstract
Trends indicate that misuse of opiates has increased nationally, frequently resulting in death. Substance use treatment clinics are now distributing naloxone (Narcan) to clients and laypeople as an antidote for opiate-related overdose. Offering Opiate Education and Naloxone Distribution (OEND) programs at treatment facilities increase the naloxone education opportunities available to those most closely affected by overdose.
Methods: The evaluation of naloxone distribution at a Midwestern substance use disorder clinic involved a retrospective analysis via chart audit of data regarding the delivery and administration of naloxone. The project focused on 48 individuals in the initial treatment phase for opiate use disorder with Methadone who received naloxone from April to January of 2017.
Results: A total of 48 (N = 48) clients received naloxone. Of these 48 clients, 15% (n = 7) required replacement naloxone. Of those 7 clients, 71.4% (n = 5) used naloxone for a witnessed opiate-related overdose.
Conclusion: When properly educated on opiates and naloxone, clients will use naloxone for a witnessed opiate-related overdose. OEND programs are needed in communities with increased incidence of opiate-related deaths. An evidence-based guideline for an OEND program would be the next step to provide the best education and support for clients. Further data regarding client perspectives of naloxone use would also be beneficial.
Keywords: Narcan, naloxone, Opiate Education and Naloxone Distribution, overdos
Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block for Post-Dural Puncture Headache Treatment
Get PDFPost-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is defined as an orthostatic, fronto-occipital headache. The incidence of PDPH from neuraxial anesthesia techniques averages 1%. There are several treatments for PDPHs. The gold standard is the epidural blood patch (EBP). The EBP can be costly, requires experience, and is associated with rare, but serious complications. These factors present significant barriers to treating PDPHs. The sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) block consists of using local anesthetics to block the parasympathetic signals, which flow through the SPG. Current theories suggest that increased parasympathetic outflow is the trigger for many forms of headaches, including PDPHs. Various literature associated with SPG blocks and PDPH treatments were synthesized using the Iowa Model for Evidence-Based Practice into a SPG block protocol for a central Illinois community hospital. The protocol was implemented from 05/08/2017 to 10/27/2017 after a presentation and hands on training conducted by the author, the facility stakeholder, and the SphenoCath representative. Evaluation of the protocol and the presentation was via survey. Survey results revealed, one provider implemented the protocol on three patients. Anecdotal data demonstrated all three patients experienced relief and required no further treatment. The protocol provided a less invasive, effective option for treating PDPHs
St. Louis Currents: The Fifth Edition
Get PDFIncludes a history of African American entertainment in St. Louis Metro East and a history of Homer G. Phillips Hospital, among the current socio-economic issues facing St. Louis metropolitan area, Missouri and Illinois
Revisiting Progressive Era Lessons for Understanding Today
Get PDFThis essay reviews four books on the Progressive Era, and draws lessons from those books to help explain contemporary political events. It explores topics such as proportional representation, efficiency of service delivery, business-driven reforms, and voter heterogeneity. All of these books provide a meaningful understanding of cities in the Progressive Era (1890s-1920s) and beyond. However, the issues and lessons from a century ago still challenge us today, so we may be in a new “Gilded Age” and headed toward yet another era of progressivism