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Pause with Paws
No full textINTRODUCTION:The demanding nature of nursing education and practice requires effective strategies for stress management and emotional well-being. The Long Island University - Brooklyn Student Nurses Association (SNA) chapter collaborated with The Good Dog Foundation to introduce Pause with Paws, a pet therapy initiative designed to support nursing students, faculty, and staff.
METHODS: This initiative began in 2019 with therapy dog visits to campus and provided comfort and emotional relief to nursing students. Additionally, nursing students would experience the value of therapy dogs in patient care from the perspective of the patient, preparing students for professional practice. Despite an initially small turnout, the sessions were well received. The program was disrupted for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed in 2022-2023 with monthly therapy dog visits, and returned with a much higher turnout of 84 student participants. Therapy dog visits were scheduled on consistent dates to maximize participation. In 2024-2025, the initiative continues with therapy dog Marshall and aims to highlight the value of pet therapy in mental and emotional well-being while reinforcing the importance of self-care for nurses and nursing students.
CONCLUSION: By providing opportunities for interaction with therapy dogs, Pause with Paws fosters a sense of community, stress relief, and emotional support within the academic environment. Nursing students experience therapy dogs first-hand and form an understanding of their value in healthcare for patient wellbeing. Future visits will continue to reinforce the role of pet therapy as a beneficial wellness intervention
The Effect of Poverty Reduction on Home Chaos and Maternal Agency: Evidence from the Baby’s First Years Study
No full textINTRODUCTION: Unconditional Cash Transfers (UCT) have associations with increased household stability and decreased risk of child mortality for families living in poverty. Research consistently finds a connection between UCTs and parental well-being. Home Chaos (HC) may partially explain this relationship; maternal mental health, such as depression, may also play a role. The present study aimed to investigate whether HC partially explained the effect of UCT on Maternal Agency (MA) in the first three years of a child’s life.
METHOD: The current study is a secondary analysis of publicly available data from a cross-sectional, longitudinal study, Baby’s First Years Study. One thousand participating mother-infant dyads were recruited from 12 hospitals across 4 metropolitan areas. 40% of the sample was allocated to receive 20 monthly gifts.
CONCLUSION: Our results showed HC was significantly negatively associated with MA. UCT amount did not cause differences in HC nor MA. There was no mediating effect of HC. Yet, in the moderation model, UCT group did moderate the relationship between HC and MA in the low UCT group, such that HC led to less MA only in the low UCT group. This suggests that high UCT group assignments perhaps buffered the negative impact of HC on MA
Current Trends in Manufacturing for Large Volume Parenteral in the Pharmaceutical Industry and Future Scopes
No full textINTRODUCTION: Large Volume Parenterals (LVPs) are manufactured in a number of steps, starting with the reception of excipients and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) and ending with the product\u27s final shipment. A number of difficulties occur during these phases, including as manufacturing faults, sample errors, and problems with quality control. To guarantee the quality and safety of the final product, those working on various stages of production must also follow strict guidelines. In addition to implementing Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and other industry standards, the pharmaceutical sector is focusing more on production-related concerns like quality assurance and workforce management.
METHODS: The main components of LVP manufacturing are examined in this study, with particular attention paid to the importance of human interaction, automation, and the technologies now in use to guarantee product quality. It specifically covers the use of advanced technology in production, the implementation of GMP, and the integration of quality control procedures. The future of automation in LVP manufacturing is also covered in the study, along with possible effects on control systems, production, and quality assurance. RESULTS: According to the analysis, automation in a number of LVP manufacturing processes might greatly lower human error, improve product uniformity, and expedite production. The implementation of automated systems will improve the overall quality of the products by concentrating on lowering human dependency in areas like quality assurance and control. Furthermore, the functions of the quality assurance and manufacturing teams are essential to guaranteeing efficient production and legal compliance.
CONCLUSION: There will likely be a change toward increased automation in LVP manufacturing in the future. This change has the potential to improve product quality and save labor expenses. But it also calls for more study and advancement of automated systems, particularly in the fields of control and quality assurance. Future developments will help the pharmaceutical sector better handle the difficulties of mass production while enhancing the efficacy and safety of its products
Assessing the Use of a Single Vancomycin Level in Predicting Area Under the Curve: A Retrospective Analysis in a Veteran Affairs Population
No full textINTRODUCTION: Current vancomycin guidelines recommend monitoring area under the curve (AUC; target 400-600mg*h/L) to optimize efficacy and minimize toxicity. Historically, guidelines suggested monitoring with trough concentrations (15-20 mg /L) as a surrogate marker for AUC but were found to be associated with nephrotoxicity. Due to challenges in AUC monitoring, several centers continue to use trough monitoring. We sought to determine if a single vancomycin concentration can accurately predict an AUC of 400-600mg*h/L.
METHOD: Patients on vancomycin with a subsequent vancomycin level at the James J. Peter’s Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023, were retrospectively reviewed. Patient’s undergoing renal replacement therapy (RRT) were excluded. We collected patient age, race, height (inches), weight(kg), ethnicity, patient location, admission/discharge date, renal function, days of therapy (DOT), vancomycin dose, total daily dose, infusion time, and corresponding vancomycin level that was collected. Utilizing previously defined pharmacokinetic equations from an online calculator, AUC was predicted based on the single trough concentrations collected. The AUC was correlated to single concentrations using Spearman’s rank correlation.
RESULTS: A total of 34 patients met the inclusion criteria, and 116 vancomycin levels were assessed. The median vancomycin trough level was 15.8 mg/L (interquartile range [IQR], 11.47- 18.97), Vd= 58.82 L, Cl= 3.16 L/hr (IQR, 1.89- 4.40), and true trough of 13.89 mg/L (IQR, 7.93- 18.81). The median calculated elimination rate constant (ke) was 0.05 hr-1 (IQR 0.03-0.07). The median estimated AUC= 525.87mg*h/L (IQR, 351.96- 654.64). The Pearson coefficient is r= 0.7977415, showing the correlation between the trough and AUC.
CONCLUSION: There is a strong positive correlation between the vancomycin concentration levels obtained and predicting AUC
Unlocking the Wonders of Black Seed: Nature\u27s Miraculous Secret Revealed
No full textINTRODUCTION: Nigella sativa, a member of the Ranunculaceae family, contains bioactive compounds such as thymoquinone (TQ), nigellicines, nigelledine, and alpha-hederin, which have demonstrated therapeutic potential in various diseases. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Peace be upon him) said, “There is healing in black cumin for all diseases except death” (Sahih Al-Bukhari 5688). Today, black cumin/seed is commonly regarded as a superfood, shedding light on a link between recommended food by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and disease management.
METHOD: This literature-based research investigates the immunomodulatory effects of TQ, focusing on its implications for rheumatoid arthritis, COVID-19, and the three most prevalent cancers: breast, lung, and prostate.
RESULTS: The review highlights thymoquinone’s ability to modulate immune responses by suppressing inflammatory markers like IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, NF-kB, and TNF-α in COVID-19, and reducing symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, including serum hs-CRP levels, DAS-28 scores, swollen joint count, while enhancing CD4+CD25+ T cells and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio. Additionally, Nigella sativa promotes apoptosis in cancer cells, mitigates genetic mutations, and reduces metastasis.
CONCLUSION: Although it is not a cure for cancer, Nigella sativa exhibits substantial therapeutic potential for these chronic conditions
Analysis of the Effects of Alcohol in an Alzheimer\u27s Model Using Drosophila Melanogaster
No full textAlzheimer’s is an irreversible neurodegenerative disease affecting 6.7 million Americans, with about 1 in 9 people over the age of 65 having it. This disease causes severe dementia, leading to memory loss and early death. There are 5 small geographic regions of the world called blue zones, places with the healthiest and longest living communities, as well as uniquely low rates of neurodegenerative disorders. The reasons for these unusual health outcomes are unknown, however, moderate alcohol consumption, most commonly red wine, is observed in four of the five zones. The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that moderate red wine consumption accounts for a lower frequency of Alzheimer’s and its effects. In this study the effects of moderate red wine consumption are evaluated using a fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) with Alzheimer\u27s-like symptoms. The Alzheimer’s model in the fly is generated by expressing high levels of beta amyloid protein, which produces one of the neurological outcomes observed in Alzheimer’s patients. To test the hypothesis that red wine is specifically beneficial, the fly culture media will be supplemented with either alcohol, red wine, or water, and the effects of these manipulations will be examined by measuring life span and neuromuscular fitness
Communication Self-Efficacy and Needs Assessment of Workup Specialists at NMDP: A Mixed Methods Study on Consenting Prospective HSCT Donors Regarding Post-Transplant Genetic Findings
No full textRecipients of allogeneic HSCT may undergo genetic testing as part of their care, potentially revealing genetic findings of donor origin. To uphold principles of donor safety, autonomy, and informed decision-making, the WMDA has published recommendations, and NMDP (Formerly Be The Match) has implemented a new consenting process (Pryce et al., 2023). Prospective donors must be willing to receive clinically significant genetic findings of potential donor origin as a condition of donation, based on the duty of donation registries to protect the health and safety of their volunteer unrelated donors (VUDs). However, they may choose whether to be informed about uncertain findings such as variants of uncertain significance (VUS). If a finding of potential donor origin is detected, genetic counseling and confirmatory testing are recommended. This mixed methods study assessed the communication self-efficacy of NMDP workup specialists—professionals responsible for consenting prospective donors—through a survey (N=15) and qualitative interviews (N=2). Results indicate that various modalities of professional experience and training, including years as a workup specialist, experience in medical or health settings, and scientific training, did not significantly impact communication self-efficacy. However, results suggest that higher confidence in understanding a genetic VUS was associated with higher overall communication self-efficacy, particularly in clarifying donor knowledge to provide appropriate information. Results also suggest that confidence in VUS understanding was associated with self-efficacy in informed consent-related communication but not in psychosocial or contracting (conversation-planning) skills. Inductive thematic analysis of interviews revealed that donors frequently ask about the implications of uncertain genetic findings and seek concrete examples of clinically significant versus uncertain results. Workup specialists expressed a lack of confidence in answering these questions and highlighted the need for additional educational resources and examples to improve the consenting process
Diagnosis, Virus Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Circulating FIPV Strains from Two Shelter Cats of Long Island
No full textFeline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) remains as one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in young cats from shelters and catteries worldwide. Since little is known about the molecular characteristics of currently circulating FIPV strains in Long Island, New York, as part of a major study, samples from two shelter cats (A15 and A37) with gross and microscopic lesions consistent with those of FIP were processed for virus isolation, molecular characterization and full-length genome decoding. The younger shelter cat, a 1-year-old male (A15) was found dead without previous signs of illness. Postmortem examination revealed gross and microscopic lesions characterized by vasculitis, necrosis, hemorrhage and pyogranulomatous inflammation confined to the colon and associated lymph nodes. The second cat, a 7-year-old spayed female (A37) had an identical clinical history and similar but widespread lesions, including peritoneal effusion, cecal, colonic, renal and hepatic involvement. The gross and microscopic diagnosis of FIP in these cats was confirmed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) demonstration of coronavirus antigen using mouse anti-FIPV3-70 monoclonal antibody. Virus isolation from saved frozen tissue was performed through several subsequent blind passages in MDCK and Vero cell lines. Confirmation of the FIPV isolation was done through qRT-PCR, IFA, western blot using N protein antibodies, and NGS of the full-length genome sequencing. Diagnostic surveillance, molecular characterization and sequencing analysis of circulating FIPV strains within animal shelters may help to identify unique evolving clinical and pathological manifestations of the disease and the development of more targeted prophylactic and therapeutic approaches to control it
Beyond entertainment – an analysis of Minecraft: Education Edition as an inclusive educational platform for diverse learners
No full textMinecraft: Education Edition is examined as an interactive and educational media object and art form. Through an analysis of its game\u27s UI, interactive design, and user-friendliness, players are immersed in the game. Although Minecraft provides an open-ended design that fosters creativity, freedom, and collaborative learning, its structured instructional scaffolding, adaptive difficulty, and comprehensive accessibility features make it less inclusive for all learners. This thesis argues that these gaps serve as warnings to educational Media Arts practitioners working on interactive media design and lessons about interface design, user agency, and inclusion in game mechanics. This research examines the structure of Minecraft and Prodigy, comparing them to The Last of Us Part II in terms of accessibility, feedback mechanisms, and engagement. This paper examines how the block-based style of Minecraft, its non-linear learning paths, and its UI limitations impact the user experience, relating them to Lev Manovich\u27s interface theories, Marshall McLuhan\u27s media ecology, and universal design principles. Design analysis, comparative rubric, and a user experience case study recommend making educational games accessible and immersive. This research ultimately argues for combining structured learning pathways with adaptive feedback and UI inclusion in sandboxed educational games to create interactive learning spaces that are creatively engaging and provide broad access to diverse learners
The Oprah in Me: Becoming Sidney O.
No full textOprah Winfrey is a staple in American History and the world. She has infiltrated American media pop culture with a range of experience and expertise in various forms of media: television, literature, radio, Internet and film. Oprah has influenced popular culture. She continuously shared her ‘truths’ through her experiences and successes both good and bad making her extremely relatable. Oprah educates and inform the public about pressing issues in media and the world. Oprah has stood as an icon for many women, including me