Evaluating the Impact of Targeted Education and Counseling on HPV and HPV Vaccine Among Women Aged 27–45

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is crucial in preventing cervical and other HPV-related cancers. Despite this, vaccination rates among women aged 27 to 45 remain low due to limited clinician-led counseling, knowledge gaps, and misconceptions. This quality improvement project assessed the effectiveness of targeted, clinician-led counseling in enhancing HPV-related knowledge, vaccine awareness, and behavioral intentions among this underserved demographic. A pre- and post-intervention design was implemented at a community-based women\u27s health clinic in Miami, Florida. Twentyfive unvaccinated, English or Spanish-speaking women aged 27 to 45 were recruited during routine well-woman and gynecologic visits. Following informed consent, participants completed a pre-survey, received a brief, structured counseling session guided by an evidence-based script, and completed a post-survey during the same visit. Counseling content addressed HPV transmission, cancer risks, vaccine benefits, and common myths using a shared decision-making framework. Statistically significant improvements were observed across domains of HPV knowledge, vaccine awareness, and attitudes (p \u3c .001). Although behavioral intentions to pursue vaccination increased, the change did not reach statistical significance (Z = –1.72, p = .086). These findings support the integration of brief, patient-centered counseling into routine preventive care as an effective strategy to enhance knowledge and support informed decision-making. The results underscore the critical role of advanced practice nurses in delivering culturally responsive, evidence-based education in addressing public health gaps through evidencebased education and personalized preventive care

Taruskin’s Great Contributions and a Few Shortcomings

Among the most needed, and durable, features of Richard Taruskin’s life’s work was his consistent interpretation of music and music-making within and against their societal and cultural contexts. This stood in contrast to the positivistic methodologies that German, British, and American musicology valued in the 1960s–70s: instances of the latter include the making of reliable critical editions and, in a very different sense, various “the notes only” methods of music analysis. The breadth of Taruskin’s vision and his command of musical and cultural history are apparent in the enormous “Nationalism” entry in the 2001 edition of Grove (now available at OxfordWesternMusic.com). The origin of that entry, in a suggestion from this article’s author to Grove editor Stanley Sadie, is here told for the first time. Taruskin’s strongest writings include the article “Resisting the Ninth” (Beethoven’s) and books on Musorgsky and Russian music more broadly. His combination of passionate advocacy and writerly skill is apparent in his writings on the Bach cantatas, in his skewering of the claims of high modernists such as Elliott Carter, and in his identifying the trend of Historical Performance Practice (e.g., “authentic” instruments and a totally steady tempo) as a strongly modernist trend, closely analogous to the highly objective (non-emotive) neoclassicism of Stravinsky and the highly precise and literal performing style that arguably best suited Stravinsky’s music. Taruskin’s 6-volume Oxford History of Western Music has been critiqued for omitting folk and popular musics as well as jazz. But critics have neglected to point out that OHWM also omits entire genres that rely closely on written scores, such as operetta, Broadway musicals, and music composed for films. These, no less than symphonies or operas, deserve to be discussed as part of the “Western literate tradition.” Taruskin should have addressed this inconsistency or limitation but never did

Assessment of Selected Geographic Information Science (GIScience) Journals: Trends and Ranking Across Metrics

In this presentation, I\u27ll share insights from my research, recently published in the International Journal of Geographical Information Science, which analyzes publication trends in GIScience journals. I examined data from 2018 to 2023, focusing on open access, author representation, and journal metrics. My findings highlight the growing prevalence of open access and the need to address global representation disparities. I\u27ll present these results and, importantly, provide updated data reflecting the most current publishing patterns. This work offers a critical overview of the evolving GIScience literature, aiming to inform researchers and practitioners alike

Amour-Propre in the Age of the Digital Profile: Rousseau’s Moral Psychology

This paper examines the psychological and social consequences of social media through the lens of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s moral psychology, focusing on his distinction between amour de soi and amour-propre. As social media platforms incentivize promoting idealized projections of one’s identity, self-love is increasingly dependent on external validation (Likes, Reposts, Followers). I argue that this dynamic cultivates a toxic culture of comparison, narcissism, and self-alienation rooted in Rousseau’s notion of amour-propre. Situating the hyper-use of social media within Rousseau’s moral framework reveals how the digital landscape exacerbates estrangement and contributes to rising rates of anxiety, depression, and identity instability among young adults— namely Generation Z. By examining the need for curating one’s digital image, this paper offers a diagnosis of a lingering sense of online-induced depression and, in turn, proposes a minimal remedy through the lens of intentionality, community, and a return to more authentic modes of self-relation

Education, Awareness, and Confidence Levels of Anesthesia Providers to Evaluate Temporomandibular Joint in Patients Undergoing Orotracheal Intubation – Preliminary Results

Orotracheal intubation is a procedure that is considered a risk factor for the development of disorders related to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). A proper TMJ assessment is required before and after inducing anesthesia to minimize temporomandibular complications. The objective of this pilot study was to assess the education, awareness, and confidence of anesthesia providers nationwide when evaluating TMJ in patients undergoing non-emergency orotracheal intubation. An online survey was created, including 21 questions related to: demographics, work experience, self-perceived knowledge and adequacy of entry-level education, awareness of TMJ risks, and current confidence levels on evaluating TMJ. A total of 36 anesthesia providers participated (47 ±12 years; 73% female, 27% male). 89% of the participants (26) reported receiving somewhat or very little adequate information on the management of TMJ issues related to intubation throughout their entry-level education. Only 38% (11) reported feeling confident in evaluating TMJs. Of those who were not confident, 28% (6) referred patients to another provider. The majority of the anesthesia providers did not receive adequate information on the management of TMJ issues in relation to intubation during their education. This lack of knowledge and awareness may have contributed to their lack of confidence in evaluating TMJs. After taking the survey, all participants felt more aware about the importance of proper education in TMJ evaluations before and after non-emergency orotracheal intubation. The survey helped increase awareness in anesthesia providers regarding the importance of evaluating TMJ when conducting intubation

Beyond Antibiotics: Exploring the Antibacterial Mechanisms and Efficacy of Medicinal Plants and Endophytic Fungi

Due to the overuse of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance has become a global health crisis, and has forced an exploration of alternative antibacterial agents. This review explores natural solutions through the antibacterial potential of medicinal plants and their symbiotic endophytic fungi. Medicinal plants have been utilized for centuries to treat infections because of their rich phytochemical content, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and saponins, which exhibit antibacterial properties. Their efficacy is measured through minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays, which showcase their ability to inhibit bacterial growth. Isolated compounds from medicinal plants demonstrate enhanced antibacterial activity by disrupting bacterial cell membranes, with MIC values as low as 3.0 µg/mL. However, challenges like inconsistent chemical composition and cultivation issues can limit the large-scale application of medicinal plants. Endophytic fungi, micro-fungi that reside in plant tissues, offer a promising alternative resulting from their ability to mimic the production of similar bioactive compounds. Their antibacterial activity is measured through agar well assays, and most strains inhibit both gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial growth demonstrated by zones of inhibition up to 34 mm. Unlike plants, endophytic fungi are easier to cultivate and can be optimized for mass production under controlled laboratory conditions, making them a sustainable source of novel antibiotics. By exploring the diverse chemical profiles of medicinal plants and endophytic fungi, this review demonstrates the potential of both to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria effectively. Further research into their specific mechanisms and clinical trials is necessary to ensure their safety, but by advancing the exploration of these natural sources, they can contribute to the global effort to combat antibiotic resistance and revolutionizing the treatment of bacterial infections