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Measuring Welfare of Wild Tarantulas During Field Surveys Using Heart Rate
No full textTarantulas (Theraposidae) are predatory arachnids that can help control populations of herbivorous arthropods. We have been monitoring populations of the Missouri brown tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzi) in Missouri glades for three seasons and have questions about their welfare during these surveys. Unlike mammals, arthropods are not extensively researched and there are only a few known facts about measuring their welfare. Managing stress for wild animals during field surveys is important for reducing the potential negative impacts of research. In mammals, increased heart rate is positively correlated with negative stress and eustress. Using the same logic, we hypothesized that heart rate could be used as a measurement of stress in wild tarantulas. To answer the question of whether heart rate would be a good measurement of stress in wild tarantulas we measured environmental factors that could significantly affect heart rate: body size, body surface temperature, and how long researchers interacted with the tarantula while trying to get them out of their burrows. Alongside the data gathered with these factors, we measured their heart rates using a veterinary doppler flow detector. We predicted that warmer temperatures, smaller animals, and more interaction would be positively associated with heart rate, with interaction time as the most predictive factor
Screen Foundations: How Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Can Implement ‘Family Media Use Plans’ in Primary Care to Reduce Pediatric Behavior Concerns
No full textAbstract for:
Screen Foundations: How Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Can Implement ‘Family Media Use Plans’ in Primary Care to Reduce Pediatric Behavior Concerns
Problem: Parents of children 2-5 years-old increasingly reach out to PCPs for escalating behavior concerns, including when the child doesn’t listen well, is inattentive, having tantrums, meltdowns, hitting, yelling, etc. Referrals to psychiatry and/or play therapy result in long waits, or referrals not accepted. Coincidingly, toddler and preschool aged children continue to exceed daily screen time recommendations. This results in a gap of care for families with young children and externalizing behavior.
Methods: This quality improvement project addressed clinical practice with a longitudinal design. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and a screen usage questionnaire were utilized pre/post intervention to assess changes in behavior and average daily screen usage following a 30-day implementation of an American Academy of Pediatrics’ Family Media Plan for children ages 2-5 years-old.
Results: Five families participated in this project. A statistically insignificant decrease in SDQ scores from 7.3 to 7.0 was found. Secondarily, following the 30-day intervention, the average daily screen time for participants decreased from 2 hours 25 minutes, to 1 hour 50 minutes.
Implication for Practice: Helping families to create a Family Media Plan as a way to address behavior concerns is evidenced based and free, without having long wait times for psychiatry or play therapy. Family Media Plans may be a good option if a provider is concerned about excessive behavior in a young child and psychiatry is not a feasible option
Increasing Pediatric HPV Vaccination Rates
No full textIncreasing Pediatric HPV Vaccination Rates
Abstract
Problem: The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection that affects more than 80% of the population within the United States (Eisenhauer et al., 2020). HPV can develop into cervical, anogenital, and oropharyngeal cancers (Eisenhauer et al., 2020). About 4,000 individuals die from cervical cancer alone each year (O’Leary, 2022). The HPV vaccine, though recommended by the ACIP and AAP, is below national vaccination rates in comparison to other vaccines (O’Leary, 2022).
Methods: This quality improvement project is a non-randomized controlled trial that observed HPV vaccine dose completion rates for patients aged 9-14 at a community clinic in St. Louis, Missouri. The intervention included a patient reminder SMS message sent through an application called Doximity to remind patients their second dose (completion) dose of the HPV vaccine was due. Information collected from the intervention included how many appointments were made for the receival of the vaccine and how many patients received the completion dose of the HPV vaccine.
Results: A total of eight patients were eligible for the quality improvement intervention. Throughout the three-month intervention period between March 24th to June 24th, 2025, no patients in the sample were observed to have received the completion dose of the HPV vaccine (n = 0). As no participants produced a response from the intervention, no inferential statistical testing could be performed.
Implications for practice: More studies and quality improvement projects are needed to determine the appropriate method of increasing HPV vaccination compliance to the recommended 80% that Healthy People 2020 recommend (Eisenhauer et al., 2021)
Litmag 2025
Full text linkLitmag’s mission is to nurture the creativity of the students, staff, and alumni of UMSL by providing a space to showcase the diverse literary and artistic talent on our campus. We aim to provide an inclusive, professional and high-quality publication free of charge to UMSL and the local community.
Dear Reader, Welcome! I am so excited to introduce to you the 2025 edition of UMSL’s Litmag. It was a privilege to serve as the Editor-in-Chief for this year’s publication, and I would first like to acknowledge the diligent hard work of the Litmag staff. From the call for submissions to the printing of the journal, our team worked tirelessly to deliver a quality experience, one which Litmag always strives to provide. We all participated in a blind selection process of each piece presented in this issue, and were thus blinded by the passion and beauty of each piece and their artistic merit. Our goal for this edition of Litmag was inspired by the magnificent, confusing phenomenon that is humanity. We envisioned an edition of Litmag that was full of love, life, strife, and grit; when you read this journal, we want you as the reader to be inspired by the energy within its pages, and we hope that it lights a fire inside you. The state of the world as we know it is confusing. We have struggled, fought, and some of us have died to preserve our quality of life, our honor, and our autonomy. There are those of us that are at risk of being erased. At risk of being silenced. But it is within publications such as Litmag where we find solace. It is within art that we’ve found our purpose. We find like-minded individuals who see the world as we do, and who feel the exuberance of life as we do. To be human is to create, and to create is to live. So live. Take pen to paper, paint to canvas, camera to target, and stake your claim in this world, because the stories, art, and experiences we share through our creations can never be erased. They can never be silenced. We are the change. Dear reader, with honor, Andrew Jacob Pashia. Editor-in-Chiefhttps://irl.umsl.edu/litmag/1034/thumbnail.jp
Getting the Unbanked, Banked: An Adult Education Intervention Program to Increase the Usage of the Banking System by Low-Income Families
Full text linkFinancial literacy describes the skills, knowledge and tools consumers use to make informed financial decisions to meet their goals. The purpose of this study was to determine how many consumers utilize the resources offered by banks and credit unions and for those who do not, after participating in an intervention, will begin to do so. The Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change served as the theoretical framework. It has been shown to be a useful model to examine adults’ change in financial behaviors. The sample consisted of 65 adults who lived within specific zip codes in a large metropolitan area in the midwestern United States. Participants completed a pre-survey asking questions about their use of a checking account, savings account, credit cards, and budgeting. Once completed, they completed an audio intervention program called the Money Smart program by the FDIC and then a post survey. The intervention describes the resources (checking account, savings account, home loan, etc.) used by banks and credit unions and how using them will be beneficial whereas the post-survey asked if they are open to using the banking and credit union resources. Relative to resources, most participants indicated they would increase their use of resources related to checking and savings accounts. Additionally, most participants indicated they would reduce the number of credit cards they used. As a result of the financial literacy intervention program, the participants increased their knowledge on monitoring their household finances. Implications include understanding that a one-time financial seminar is enough to change adults’ financial behaviors
No Cheers, No Fears: Unpacking Non-drinkers\u27 Survival Tactics at Work-Related Drinking Events
Full text linkIn certain workplace contexts, the organization may encourage alcohol consumption at work-sponsored events, such as happy hours and dinners. In these situations, being a non-drinker becomes a stigmatized but potentially concealable identity. This research explores antecedents, consequences, and moderators of the various identity management strategies used by non-drinkers in alcohol-centric, organizationally-sponsored events. Using hierarchical linear modeling, I examined how situational factors, including event type, supervisor presence, and psychological safety, influence nondrinkers\u27 decisions to conceal or reveal their nondrinking identity. Findings indicate that felt social pressure significantly increases concealment behaviors and decreases disclosure behaviors. Additionally, psychological safety and supervisor presence emerged as critical moderators, influencing nondrinkers’ perceived pressures and identity management strategies. These findings provide actionable insights for organizations aiming to foster inclusive environments, enhance employee well-being, and improve retention of nondrinking employees. This study addresses a significant gap by spotlighting the overlooked experiences of nondrinkers in alcohol-centric workplace settings
Truth, Resilience, and Healing: Deepen Understanding of Native American Federal Boarding School Histories
Full text linkIndigenous communities have endured the long-standing impacts of U.S. Federal Indian boarding school policy. The history of Indigenous boarding school policies and the underlying intent to enact cultural genocide is unknown and unacknowledged. The perspectives of Indigenous Peoples have been excluded from dominant narratives, and until recently, from heritage site programming, leading to intergenerational trauma, fragmented identities, and the misrepresentation of Indigenous cultures and experiences. This basic qualitative study asked the question: When the four-truth framework, developed by the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, is applied to U.S. Federal Indian boarding school policy, Native American boarding school history, and Indigenous oral history and storywork in the U.S., how can emerging insights inform heritage site partnerships and programming? We conducted semi-structured Zoom interviews with three Indigenous respondents; created a database with more than 60 oral histories accessed from universities, Autry Museum of the American West, and YouTube archives; compiled multi-day Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition Healing Summit transcripts; and referenced volumes one and two of the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative Investigative Reports. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we generated the following findings: Indigenous oral histories provide access to the experiences of boarding school survivors; authentic listening creates space for acknowledgment, empathy, and trust building; and through deep partnerships, heritage sites can recalibrate power dynamics and demonstrate cultural humility. This doctoral dissertation examines the history of U.S. Federal Indian boarding school policy through two unique pathways: a scholarly article and a creative nonfiction chapter. The article examines the understandings and actions that non-Indigenous People must cultivate if they are to create conditions conducive to social healing. The creative nonfiction chapter applies a four-truth lens, developed by the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to uncover truths surrounding Indigenous boarding school history and the authentic truth-telling work and resurgence of Indigenous People as they engage with this history. The findings underscore the importance of non-Indigenous People developing understanding, empathy, acknowledgement, and connection to Indigenous People through exposure to the experiences of boarding school survivors, the perspectives of Indigenous communities today, and the role of heritage interpretation and storytelling in fostering social healing
Palliative Care Beyond Cancer: The Use of the P-CaRES Tool
Full text linkEmergency Departments (EDs) often lack the necessary resources and protocols to provide comprehensive palliative care, resulting in inadequate pain and symptom management (Stoltenberg et al., 2022). This study investigates the potential transformative impact of a palliative care consultation on patients with advanced disease who screen positive using the validated P-CaRES tool. The PICOT questions: Will patients with end-stage COPD, CHF, and or other chronic conditions benefit from P-CaRES screening in the emergency department over nine weeks and receive more palliative care consultations from their primary care providers?
This project was conducted over 9 weeks, utilizing convenience sampling to select 20 patients who screened positive for potential benefits from palliative care. The project was conducted in a 28-bed rural emergency department in southeast Missouri. Providers who assisted in the screening and placement of orders were surveyed after the collection period to evaluate their experience. The most frequently identified interventions for patients included Social Work consultation, medical device use, and therapeutic and supportive medications. The results did not show a high frequency of referrals to palliative care services, despite the high frequency of positive screenings. No significance was found within the Admit, Transfer, or Discharge Categories for disposition. However, findings suggest a relationship between the P-CaRES screening form and the number of patients placed on hospice care during the study period. Analysis of providers’ opinions suggest that the P-CaRES screening is a valuable tool in identifying patients who may benefit from palliative care or hospice services.
Further investigation should be undertaken to expand the role of palliative care screening and hospice screening within the emergency department. Future research should focus on overcoming barriers such as staff involvement, patient assessment, and earlier screening efforts. Expanding the role of screening to both palliative and hospice care may offer more opportunities for individuals with advanced chronic diseases to receive support and quality healthcare for their disease management
Dying Young
No full textDeath, often perceived as a disruption to daily life, is an inevitable part of the human experience. While older adults may develop familiarity with mortality through the collective experience of personal and familial losses, young adults generally have limited exposure to death. Despite this, young adults, defined as individuals aged 20 to 34, represent approximately 20% of the U.S. population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020), and the mortality rate within this age group has been rising over the past decade (Woolf & Schoomaker, 2019). Death among young adults is often overlooked in societal narratives and medical research, which primarily focus on end-of-life experiences in children and older adults. Young adults are often excluded from clinical trials and face a gap in services, finding themselves caught between pediatric and adult care systems that fail to meet their distinct needs. This project utilized a phenomenological research design and analysis to explore the experiences of young adults with terminal cancer, highlighting the emotional, psychological, and social impact of navigating end-of-life care in a system ill-equipped to support them. A total of two young adult participants and five clinicians volunteered for the study. The young adults completed two semi-structured interviews (one in-depth, narrative interview and one shorter, follow-up interview). The five clinicians completed one semi-structured interview. The data was analyzed to capture the essence of the reported phenomenon among the participants, which brought forth more knowledge about their experience of navigating a terminal illness as a young adult or in a support role at the end-of-life. The research identifies the unique challenges young adults face when confronting death through seven major themes: navigating life with a terminal illness, identity beyond diagnosis, navigating relationships and support systems, coping through uncertainty, meaning making, legacy, and clinical reflections. This research delivers vital insights into young adults with terminal diseases by detailing a spectrum of experiences including their emotional, social, and existential growth. Findings, limitations, and implications for counselor educators as well as the counseling profession, and areas for continued research, are presented and discussed
Through the Four Truth Lens: Exploring Climate Change Communication at Joshua Tree and Glacier Bay National Parks
Full text linkThe climate crisis threatens our global communities, cultures, and futures. Communication that brings climate change into everyday conversations and galvanizes the public to respond to it collectively is needed. However, political divides in the United States make climate change a contested heritage topic that is challenging to address. The purpose of this applied, basic qualitative research study was to use the Four Truth Framework, developed by the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to investigate climate change communication at Joshua Tree National Park in California and Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska. Climate change affects national parks more than other environments, accelerating shifts in precipitation and temperature that harm park flora, fauna, and natural systems. Through observations, document and artifact analysis, and semi-structured interviews with 48 participants (16 NPS staff, five stakeholders, nine subject matter experts, and 18 park visitors), a four-person research team investigated how climate change was communicated in each park and how interviewees responded to these communication efforts. The team conducted interviews onsite in July 2023 and online through December 2023 and used reflexive thematic analysis to develop our research findings. Our findings suggest that heritage interpreters can shift the dynamics of climate change communication to cultivate the kind of constructive hope the leads to collective action by sharing stories grounded in place, encouraging critical curiosity, promoting personal experiences, and facilitating crucial conversations across social divides. However, not all heritage interpreters may feel confident incorporating climate change into their programs, even if they have training on how to do so. Therefore, it is important to analyze how we train and support heritage interpreters to communicate climate change and evaluate the impacts of those communications on visitors. Conducting future research in line with this study in more geographic areas, with Indigenous and other knowledge holders, and on other facets of communication could inform more site-specific approaches to interpretive practice as well as professional development