Exploring Mindfulness: College Students\u27 Journey Through an Abbreviated Program

The transition into college is the first time that students are given control over their own schedules and routines. Despite this newfound freedom, more than 80 percent of college students have reported feeling overwhelmed by all the demands placed on them (American College Health Association, 2013) and studies have shown that poor time management is a predictor of academic stress (Misra & McKean, 2000). Without a structured routine, many college students struggle to find a balance between academics and their social lives, leading them to procrastinate on their coursework. Studies in mindfulness and mindfulness programs have been on the rise over the past decade. Jon Kabat-Zinn (2003) defines mindfulness as: “the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally to the unfolding of experience moment by moment” (p. 145). A common method of teaching mindfulness for all age groups is the eight- week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, which involves a three-hour weekly meeting and 45 minutes of daily practice. Many studies have found that practicing MBSR is effective in decreasing feelings of stress and anxiety in daily life (Cullen, 2011). However, less is known about the relationship between mindfulness and stress in regards to time management within the busy lives of college students. The purpose of this study is to examine whether an abbreviated mindfulness intervention will lead to improved time management skills for college students, resulting in reduced stress and better self-care. The proposed study defines time management using a five-factor model, developed by Bond and Feather (1988), consisting of sense of purpose, structured routine, present orientation, effective organization, and persistence. The methodology consisted of six weekly one-hour group meetings with five volunteer participants, emphasizing the participants’ experiences learning mindfulness with ten minutes of daily practice. Personal journal reflections were collected weekly, focusing on their personal growth and insight. Preliminary analysis revealed that participants reported a greater sense of calm and increased energy and productivity. Since lack of time is a major concern for college students, the findings of this study may offer implications for the development of an abbreviated mindfulness program that is more manageable for college students’ schedules

Submicroscopic malaria infection is not associated with fever in cross-sectional studies in Malawi

Submicroscopic Plasmodium falciparum infections are widespread in many areas. However, the contribution of these infections to symptomatic malaria is not well understood. This study evaluated whether participants with submicroscopic P. falciparum infections have higher prevalence of fever than uninfected participants in southern Malawi. A total of 16,650 children and adults were enrolled in the course of six cross-sectional surveys during the dry season (October–November) and after the rainy season (April–May) between 2012 and 2014 in three districts in southern Malawi. Demographic and socioeconomic data were collected in conjunction with data on clinical histories, use of malaria preventive measures, and anti-malarial medication taken within 2 weeks of the survey. Axillary temperatures were measured, and blood samples were collected for P. falciparum detection by microscopy and PCR. Participants without malaria parasites detected on microscopy but with a positive PCR for P. falciparum were defined as having submicroscopic infection. Fever was defined as having any one of: reported fever in the past 2 weeks, reported fever in the past 48 h, or a temperature of ≥ 37.5 °C measured at the time of interview. Submicroscopic P. falciparum infections and fever were both detected in 9% of the study population. In the final analysis adjusted for clustering within household and enumeration area, having submicroscopic P. falciparum infection was associated with reduced odds of fever in the dry season (odds ratio = 0.52; 95% CI 0.33–0.82); the association in the rainy season did not achieve statistical significance (odds ratio = 1.20; 95% CI 0.91–1.59). The association between submicroscopic infection and fever was consistent across all age groups. When the definition of fever was limited to temperature of ≥ 37.5 °C measured at the time of interview, the association was not statistically significant in either the rainy or dry season. In this series of cross-sectional studies in southern Malawi, submicroscopic P. falciparum infection was not associated with increased risk of fever. Submicroscopic detection of the malaria parasite is important in efforts to decrease transmission but is not essential for the clinical recognition of malaria disease.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-020-03296-

The epidemiology of enterococci

The enterococci are emerging as a significant cause of nosocomial infections, accounting for approximately 10 % of hospital acquired infections. They are found as normal inhabitants of the human gastrointestinal tract, but may also colonize the oropharynx, vagina, perineal region and soft tissue wounds of asymtomatic patients. Until recently, evidence indicated that most enterococcal infections arose from patients' own endogenous flora. Recent studies, however, suggest that exogeneous acquisition may occur and that person-to-person spread, probably on the hands of medical personnel, may be a significant mode of transmission of resistant enterococci within the hospital. The use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, especially cephalosporins, is another major factor in the increasing incidence of enterococcal infections. These findings suggest that barrier precautions, as applied with other resistant nosocomial pathogens, along with more judicial use of antibiotics may be beneficial in preventing nosocomial spread of resistant enterococci.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47899/1/10096_2005_Article_BF01963631.pd