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Comparison of Ceftobiprole Versus Ampicillin-ceftriaxone Antibacterial Activity Against Borderline-penicillin-resistant Ampicillin-susceptible and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus Faecalis
No full textBackground: Enterococcus faecalis endocarditis mortality rates exceed 30% despite the use of first-line ampicillin plus ceftriaxone therapy. We identified decreased ampicillin-ceftriaxone activity against borderline-penicillin-resistant, ampicillin-susceptible E. faecalis (borderline-PRASEF) (penicillin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), 4-8 μg/mL, Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) breakpoint ≤8) which is present in 30% of New York City isolates. Additionally, vancomycin resistance (VRE) is rising in E. faecalis especially among borderline-PRASEF, further limiting treatment options. Ceftobiprole is a promising agent against E. faecalis, including borderline-PRASEF and VRE.
Methods: Ceftobiprole versus ampicillin-ceftriaxone was tested against 23 borderline-PRASEF isolates, 12 of which were VRE, via 24-hour time-kills assays. MICs were determined using broth microdilution in accordance with CLSI. Ampicillin was tested at subinhibitory concentrations (0.25xMIC and 0.5xMIC) and the free plasma steady state concentration (fCpSS) was used for ceftriaxone (fCpSS=17.2 μg/mL) and ceftobiprole (fCpSS=13.8 μg/ mL) based on population pharmacokinetics. Experiments were tested in duplicate with a starting inoculum of 10^6 colony-forming unit (CFU)/mL. Antibacterial activity was de- fined as ≥2-log10 CFU/mL decrease from the initial inoculum. Differences in antibacterial activity were compared between ceftobiprole versus ampicillin-ceftriaxone and between vancomycin-susceptible (VSE) and VRE isolates via Fisher’s exact test.
Conclusion: Ceftobiprole MICs ranged from 0.5 to 32 μg/mL and were more frequently ≥16 μg/mL among VRE vs. VSE isolates (50% vs. 18.2%, p=0.24). Antibacterial activity was more common with ceftobiprole alone versus ampicillin 0.25xMIC and 0.5xMIC plus ceftriaxone (73.9% vs. 4.4%, p\u3c0.01 and 8.7%, p\u3c0.01; respectively). When comparing vancomycin susceptibility, ceftobiprole demonstrated less activity against VRE compared to VSE iso- lates (66.7% vs. 81.8%, p=0.73). Overall, ceftobiprole more frequently demonstrated ac- tivity against borderline-PRASEF compared to ampicillin plus ceftriaxone, however ceftobiprole activity is diminished against VRE. Further research is warranted to deter- mine the role of ampicillin in combination with ceftobiprole to improve activity against VRE
Understanding Local Efforts to Change Generational Attitudes and Behaviors Regarding Plastic Pollution and Waste Management in West Bali, Indonesia: A Case Study on Plastic Free Bali
No full textPlastic pollution is a pressing global issue that affects every corner of the world, from megacities like Berlin and Shanghai, to the world’s beaches like those on the Colombian Caribbean. The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) states that half of all plastic produced today is designed for single-use purposes i.e. to be used once and then “thrown away.” Plastics and the carcinogenic sub- stances they are made of threaten all living creatures and Earth systems, but plastic use and pollution is only expected to increase in the coming decades. When it comes to changing the way we consume and dispose of single-use plastic materials, action oriented community-based organizations are often the leaders of anti-plastic movements. This transdisciplinary qualitative case study explores how one such community-led initiative, Plastic Free Bali, an organization under Yayasan Biosfir Indonesia, is working to combat plastic pollution in West Bali, Indonesia. Dedicated to changing local attitudes and behaviors regarding single- use plastic consumption and waste disposal, the organization’s approach involves a combination of education, vocational training, and the government- funded building of waste management infrastructure on the village level. Data collection took place over the course of a three-month internship at the organization from September to November 2023 and consisted of structured and semi- structured interviews, door-to-door surveys in local neighborhoods, archival re- search, and participant observation. Four key themes emerged from the data. The first relates to the role of education and infrastructure in combating plastic pollution, which encompasses empowering women leaders. The second involves the connection between religion and culture and the fight against plastic pollution. The third examines tourism as a means to motivate behavior change, and finally, the fourth highlights the benefits of working with the government and other NGOs to achieve long lasting change around plastic use and pollution
Challenges in Diagnosing ADHD: Discrepancies Between Behavioral and Executive Functioning Indicators
Get PDFAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and executive function deficits. The DSM-5-TR (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2022), along with the DSM IV-TR (APA, 2000) and the DSM-5 (APA, 2013), emphasizes the behavioral aspects of ADHD while giving scant attention to executive function deficits, complicating diagnosis for clinicians and potentially resulting in misdiagnosis. This study seeks to identify the prevalence of ADHD diagnoses based on psychological evaluations where data from behavioral rating scales meet DSM criteria, but data from executive functioning measures do not, suggesting potential misdiagnosis. In this descriptive mixed design content analysis, the researcher analyzed data from 14 assessment cases to answer the question, “What is the prevalence of diagnosing children with ADHD when assessment data support behavioral symptomatology of ADHD, but executive functioning is intact?” Guided by Bruchmüller et al. (2012), this study hypothesizes that 15% of psychological evaluations of children from the Psychological Services Center at Long Island University Post that result in ADHD diagnosis will represent misdiagnosis due to behavioral symptomatology without executive function impairment indicators. This hypothesis aimed to unveil whether clinicians heavily depend on behavioral signs, risking misdiagnosis due to symptom overlaps with other conditions while disregarding ADHD\u27s vital executive function component. The hypothesis was confirmed and underscored the necessity for enhanced clinician ADHD training
Feasibility in Embedding Charismatic Leadership Strategies into Social Work Applications
No full textThe six key charismatic leadership characteristics (i.e., communication, compassion, confidence, creativity, determination, and vision) are shown methodologically, thematically, and theoretically to provide organizations and systems with desired outcomes and results. This short generic qualitative inquiry review will provide evidence that the six key charismatic leadership characteristics are currently systematically employed in multiple diverse occupational and research settings to improve followers\u27 goals and responses. Aligning existing leadership strategies to complement the six main charismatic leadership characteristics over recommended occupational competencies finds that charismatic leadership is a parallel process of leadership and management for social workers and other occupational domains, particularly within public administration. As a result, the six key charismatic leadership characteristics will be exhibited to appropriately inform evidence-based practices and be a feasible leadership modality for social workers and other relevant occupational domains to achieve better client well-being and follower outcomes, respectively, since charismatic leadership complements occupational expectations and tasks, structures, and systems. Keywords: Charismatic leadership, Social work, Evidence-based practice, Charisma, Socialized Charismatic leaders, Leadership development, Implementation feasibilit
NSP3 protein-portion interaction of SARS-COV-2 using two yeast-hybrid system
No full textThe NSP3 protein of SARS-CoV-2 plays a crucial role in the virus-host interaction during infection. This thesis explores the protein-protein interactions between NSP3 and host factors, shedding light on their significance in viral replication and pathogenesis. NSP3 is known to interact with various host proteins involved in key cellular processes, including innate immune response modulation, RNA processing and protein degradation pathways. Understanding these interactions is essential for developing targeted therapeutic strategies against COVID-19. Application of The Matchmaker GAL4Two-Hybrid Systems, to isolate the NSP3 protein and study the interactions, elucidating the NSP3 host protein interactions and attempting to identify potential key proteins that may aid to future drug targets to disrupt viral replication and inhibit the progression of infection. Furthermore, blocking these interactions may offer a promising approach to attenuate viral pathogenicity and reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms. Moreover, the development of robust protocols to block NSP3-mediated viral replication holds significant potential for combating future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks and other emerging coronaviruses. These protocols may involve the design of specific inhibitors targeting NSP3 enzymatic activities or critical interaction interfaces. Additionally, combination therapies targeting multiple viral proteins or host factors may enhance efficacy and reduce the likelihood of drug resistance development. Unraveling the NSP3 protein\u27s interactions using the Yeast two hybrid system screening, and studying the revealed interactions will provide valuable insights into SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and offers promising avenues for the development of novel antiviral therapies. By targeting NSP3-mediated processes, researchers can advance the development of effective drugs and protocols to block viral replication and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on global health
A Comparative Study on Parent Engagement Through the Lens of Instrumental Music
Get PDFLowel Mason highlights the importance of integrating music learning into the curriculum alongside other fundamental skills such as reading, promoting his belief in the transformative power of music education and its impact on child development. Mason stated, “Children must be taught music as they are taught to read” (Pemberton, 1992). The benefits of music extend beyond mere enjoyment among children, as they actively participate in class by singing, dancing, and playing instruments. The arts offer cognitive benefits that extend beyond student engagement, and researchers continue to explore the association between music and academic achievement. Participating in a string orchestra or concert band provides children with a sense of teamwork. Similar to the contributions of a defensive player on a soccer team, each member of an instrumental group provides a critical role in the overall success of the entire group. These contributions give students ownership over their own learning and create greater opportunities for children to demonstrate success. Researchers continue to examine the perceived connection between music and intelligence, demonstrating a range of possible explanations and opportunities for expanded discussion and future research. While there are clear examples that children with music education outperform their non-musically trained peers, attempts to account for this among researchers remain inconsistent. Parent engagement and their partnership with a school certainly may contribute to student achievement as well. On one hand, ensuring that music remains part of the instructional program is supported by legislation; on the other, parent engagement varies widely, and government doesn’t appear poised to begin legislating whether or not a parent reads emails from their teacher or double-checks that their child completes their homework each night. On the Federal level, Every Student Succeed Act (ESSA) establishes music as part of an educational program. Locally, this has not translated to music becoming front and center in schools. In fact, in my 11 years as a New York City Principal, funding was a major hurdle in starting an instrumental music program. For this study, I will examine parent involvement and identify preferred types of involvement of middle school students that play an instrument compared to those who do not. To examine this, middle school parents of a Long School District will be surveyed to identify their preferred type of parent engagement
Evaluation of E-governance Implementation: A Multi-attribute Analysis of E-Government Services Associated with The Annual Hajj Pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia
Get PDFThe Hajj pilgrimage is an annual global event in Saudi Arabia. It draws millions of pilgrims worldwide because of its religious significance as the fifth pillar of Islam. Its organization is a massive endeavor for the Saudi government. This research analyzes the Hajj-related E-Government service systems (websites and mobile apps). This research utilizes a multi-attribute evaluative framework to address two areas of Hajj E-Government services: usability (RQ1) and interaction with the services (RQ2). A combination of heuristic evaluation and survey methods was used. The heuristic evaluation by three expert evaluators revealed accessibility, interactivity, and functional issues. Users with disabilities or limited digital literacy faced challenges, while the system was ineffective in providing feedback. Functionality issues included confusing menu structures, inconsistent labeling, and unclear search results. Privacy and security concerns were addressed, but presentation issues hindered optimal use. The survey study with 138 pilgrims found that Hajj pilgrims have an overall positive user experience and acceptance of E-Government services despite moderate satisfaction. The top three most important Hajj services were the accuracy of information, the ability to overcome challenges, and guidance throughout the journey. These findings suggest that the government can improve E-Government services for Hajj pilgrims by making them more user-friendly and accessible, providing more training and support resources, improving usability through detailed instructions, and continually addressing technical issues by evaluatio
An Examination of Differences in Course Satisfaction Between In Person and Remote Learning for PsyD Students
Get PDFMany doctor of psychology (PsyD) students have chosen distance learning over in-person learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite distance education’s novelty and the potential effect on student competency and satisfaction, little to no research to date explores PsyD students\u27 experiences learning clinical concepts or seeing clients remotely during the pandemic. Previous research on online course satisfaction at the graduate level was conducted in 2020 and 2021, when pandemic-related stressors may have influenced results. Furthermore, research on online course satisfaction has yet to be conducted with PsyD students. Graduate students in PsyD programs may fall into the category of non-traditional students and have different needs than traditional students. In addition to taking classes, PsyD training incorporates clinical work that students participate in outside the classroom two to three days a week. Given these unique training demands, their satisfaction with online education may differ from that of other graduate-level students. This mixed-methods study included 34 participants in their third or fourth year of doctoral training who have participated in either the in-person or the virtual section of the professional development course at a private university in New York. By comparing satisfaction between the virtual and in-person sections, this study aimed to provide insight into whether doctor of psychology students are equally satisfied taking the supervision and consultation class online and in person. Furthermore, by gathering information through structured surveys, this study aimed to provide additional insights into the factors that may lead students to choose remote learning, their experiences as remote students in a course, and students\u27 perceived benefits and drawbacks of online education. Ultimately, these findings will inform educational institutions and program directors about the viability of online learning and help enhance learning experiences for PsyD students by aligning program curriculums to student needs. Results indicated no significant difference in satisfaction scores between the remote and in-person groups. However, satisfaction scores varied significantly between remote groups, with Professor 1\u27s remote class having higher satisfaction scores than Professor 2\u27s. Commute time for remote sections was significantly longer than for in-person sections. Four theoretical constructs emerged from the data in Pilot 2: Students opt for remote learning as a way to meet their basic needs and take care of themselves; instructor variables have significant impact on student satisfaction; class content affects students’ decision to be remote; student social aspects and dynamics impacted uniquely based on individual students. Ultimately, these findings will inform educational institutions and program directors about the viability of online learning and help enhance learning experiences for PsyD students by aligning program curriculums to student needs
Momentary suicidal ideation in the context of romantic conflict
Get PDFThis micro-longitudinal study examined the psychological mechanisms involved in the momentary unfolding of suicidal ideation (SI) subsequent to conflicts with a romantic partner (PRC), with a specific aim to examine the mediating and moderating roles of state anger (SA), rejection expectancy (RE), lack of emotional awareness (LEA), and perceived social support from friends (PSS). Adult participants (N = 114) who confirmed residing in the U.S., being in a romantic relationship for at least three months, and having experienced at least one episode of suicidal ideation within the past month were asked to complete self-report measures on baseline rejection expectancy (A-RSQ), lack of emotional awareness (DERS), and perceived social support from friends (MSPSS), along with daily perceived romantic conflict, state anger, and suicidal ideation over 14 consecutive days. Multilevel mediation and moderation analyses were conducted using the IBM® SPSS MLMED macro and SAS® OnDemand for Academics. The results revealed statistically significant positive correlations between PRC, SA, and SI, alongside a significant negative correlation between PSS and SI. Additionally, a partial mediation effect of SA on the PRC-SI relationship at the event level, a moderation effect of RE on the PRC-SA relationship at the event and mean levels, and a moderation effect of LEA on the SA-SI relationship at the mean level were found to be statistically significant. This study contributes to the dynamic understanding of psychological mechanisms underlying the unexpected emergence of suicidal ideation following romantic conflicts, providing specific, actionable insights for clinical intervention
Father-son play interactions and the influence of traditional masculinity ideology
Get PDFThere are limited studies exploring the benefits of father-son play and child development, and none to date have included traditional masculinity ideologies (Vallotton et al., 2020). To better inform clinical interventions for sons and their families, this study explored the relationship between paternal traditional masculinity ideology and father-son joint play interactions, and their impact on child playfulness and adjustment. Grounded in traditional masculinity ideology theory, attachment theory, and social learning theory, the study involved 86 father-son dyads with sons aged 4-8 years from the United States. Fathers completed self-report measures and father-son play interactions were observed and coded. Results showed that the sample endorsed significantly lower levels of traditional masculinity ideology compared to published norms, and no significant associations were found between paternal masculinity ideology and father-son play variables or child adjustment. Fathers\u27 support of child playfulness had a significant positive direct effect on child playfulness. Asian/Pacific Islander fathers (n = 12) reported significantly higher levels of child adjustment difficulties compared to other racial/ethnic groups, highlighting the importance of considering cultural factors in father-child research. Limitations include the cross-sectional design and homogeneous sample in terms of education level. Future research should employ larger, diverse samples, and longitudinal designs, and explore potential moderators and contextual factors. This study contributes to the understanding of fatherhood by examining the role of masculinity ideology in father-son play interactions and emphasizing the importance of fathers\u27 supportive play behaviors for fostering child playfulness. The findings have implications for clinical practice, suggesting that intervention efforts should focus on enhancing specific parenting capacities to support father-child play and child development