Hyperoctahedral Eulerian Idempotents, Hodge Decompositions, and Signed Graph Coloring Complexes

Phil Hanlon proved that the coefficients of the chromatic polynomial of a graph G are equal (up to sign) to the dimensions of the summands in a Hodge-type decomposition of the top homology of the coloring complex for G. We prove a type B analogue of this result for chromatic polynomials of signed graphs using hyperoctahedral Eulerian idempotents

Improving The Mental Health Of Students And Staff Through Mindfulness Training And Practices

The purpose of this study was to answer the question, what impact does mindfulness training and practices have on the mental health of staff and students? This paper reviews multiple sources of research on neuroscience, mental health, mindfulness practices and website design. The author documents the creation of a mindfulness resource website, in collaboration with the district’s Mindfulness Educational Specialist. This website and it’s contents were designed purposefully to provide staff, students and parents with the appropriate literature, videos, websites and applications, to enhance their mindfulness practice

Mindfulness Training for Healthcare Professional Students: A Waitlist Controlled Pilot Study on Psychological and Work-Relevant Outcomes

Burnout in healthcare professionals (HCPs) can negatively affect HCPs’ health and the overall functioning of the healthcare system. Of great concern is the negative effect of HCP burnout on psychological, cognitive, and work-relevant functioning. Mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to decrease burnout in HCPs and preliminary evidence suggests they may improve work-relevant outcomes. However, the literature is limited by methodological issues and generalizability concerns. The current pragmatic trial investigated feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of Mindfulness for Interdisciplinary Healthcare Professionals (MIHP) using a partially randomized, waitlist-controlled, crossover design [intention-to-treat sample: 22 in the mindfulness group (MG), 26 in the control group (CG)] on psychological, cognitive, and interprofessional measures. The present study also included an explanatory aim evaluating mindfulness practice time and practice quality as mediators of change. Within-group changes were assessed with the combined crossover data for mediation and three-month follow-up analyses. Finally, the present study explored the perceived effects of MIHP and how MIHP had its effects using a grounded theory approach. Results found mixed evidence for feasibility and acceptability. Small to large effects were found for the MG on outcomes of burnout, perceived stress, and mindfulness. These effects were present with groups combined and remained at the follow-up. No effect of MIHP was found on cognitive or interprofessional outcomes. Practice time and quality were not significant mediators of main effects. A grounded theory model is proposed for how MIHP may exert its positive effects within the context of healthcare

Being Mindful: A Long-term Investigation of an Interdisciplinary Course in Mindfulness

Background: Burnout and work-related stress in health-care professionals (HCPs) is a growing concern to the optimal functioning of the health-care system. Mindfulness-based interventions may be well-suited to address burnout in HCPs. Objective: The purpose of this study was (1) to quantitatively evaluate the effect of a mindfulness-based intervention for interdisciplinary HCPs over time and at a long-term follow-up and (2) to explore perceived benefits, facilitators, and barriers to the practice of mindfulness at the long-term follow-up. Design: A mixed-method, repeated measures, within-subjects design was used to investigate Mindfulness for Interdisciplinary HCPs (MIHP) at baseline, post-MIHP, and a follow-up (6 months to 1.5 years after MIHP). MIHP is an 8-week, group-based course for interdisciplinary HCPs and students, with weekly meditation training, gentle yoga, and discussions on the application of mindfulness to common stressors faced by HCPs. Main outcome measures were the Maslach Burnout Inventory—Health Services Survey and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire. A semistructured interview was used to explore participants’ perceptions of sustained effects and practice in the context of HCP work at the long-term follow-up. The study protocol was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02736292). Results: Eighteen HCPs (88% female) participated in the study. Significant reductions were found after the intervention for 2 subscales of burnout: depersonalization, F(2, 17) = 5.98, P = .01, and emotional exhaustion, F(2, 17) = 2.64, P = .10. Three facets of dispositional mindfulness showed significant increases at long-term follow-up, act aware: F(2, 15) = 4.47, P = .03, nonjudge: F(2, 15) = 4.7, P = .03, and nonreactivity: F(2, 15) = 3.58, P = .05. Continued practice of skills long term was facilitated by the use of informal practice and perceived improvement in work and personal life. Conclusion: In sum, MIHP improved subscales of burnout and mindfulness. These findings should be further explored with a larger, controlled study. Interventions should focus on developing mindfulness practice that can be integrated into the work of HCPs

Time in the Twelfth Century

Guest editors Sarah Bowden, Lea Braun and George Younge introduce Issue No. 10 of Interfaces: A Journal of Medieval European Literatures, dedicated to the theme of 'Time in the Twelfth Century,' and offer a general overview of the matter and contents of the contributions

Interventions to Increase STEM Retention of Undergraduate Women: A Literature Review

The lack of retention of women in STEM majors and careers has been an ongoing issue for years. With stunted percentages of women in participation, representation, interest, pay and more, resolving this problem is necessary. This systematic literature review focuses on interventions that are aiming to increase women’s STEM self-efficacy, performance, sense of belonging, identification, interest, retention, and positivity while decreasing STEM stereotypes and implicit gender biases. Studies were included if they used an experimental or quasi-experimental design in college students within the past 15 years. A total of 26 studies were included in this review. Across the research reviewed, creating strong peer relationships, providing role models women can self-identify with, creating gender-neutral environments, and providing education about gender biases and stereotypes within STEM was found to be the most promising in dismantling barriers that women in STEM fields face. Based on these findings, we will make recommendations for elements of successful programming that can be implemented at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University

Positron emission tomography imaging of endometrial cancer using engineered anti-EMP2 antibody fragments.

PurposeAs imaging of the cell surface tetraspan protein epithelial membrane protein-2 (EMP2) expression in malignant tumors may provide important prognostic and predictive diagnostic information, the goal of this study is to determine if antibody fragments to EMP2 may be useful for imaging EMP2 positive tumors.ProceduresThe normal tissue distribution of EMP2 protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and found to be discretely expressed in both mouse and human tissues. To detect EMP2 in tumors, a recombinant human anti-EMP2 minibody (scFv-hinge-C(H)3 dimer; 80 kDa) was designed to recognize a common epitope in mice and humans and characterized. In human tumor cell lines, the antibody binding induced EMP2 internalization and degradation, prompting the need for a residualizing imaging strategy. Following conjugation to DOTA (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N',N'″-tetraacetic acid), the minibody was radiolabeled with (64)Cu (t (1/2) = 12.7 h) and evaluated in mice as a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agent for human EMP2-expressing endometrial tumor xenografts.ResultsThe residualizing agent, (64)Cu-DOTA anti-EMP2 minibody, achieved high uptake in endometrial cancer xenografts overexpressing EMP2 (10.2 ± 2.6, percent injected dose per gram (%ID/g) ± SD) with moderate uptake in wild-type HEC1A tumors (6.0 ± 0.1). In both cases, precise tumor delineation was observed from the PET images. In contrast, low uptake was observed with anti-EMP2 minibodies in EMP2-negative tumors (1.9 ± 0.5).ConclusionsThis new immune-PET agent may be useful for preclinical assessment of anti-EMP2 targeting in vivo. It may also have value for imaging of tumor localization and therapeutic response in patients with EMP2-positive malignancies

Determinants of Stress and Effects on Performance in Internal Medicine Residents

The purpose of the present study was to assess: a) perceived stress, burnout, depression, and empathy at three time points in internal medicine residents, b) the role of gender and trait mindfulness in stress response during residency and c) to evaluate the impact these variables have on performance evaluations. Additionally, specific tasks of the residency that may contribute to the experience of stress and burnout were evaluated to test a model of job strain. Stress predicted subsequent burnout and depression. Burnout predicted subsequent depression, and stress mediated this relationship. Women reported higher mean levels of empathy and burnout than men. The exploratory measure of job strain was not significantly related to stress outcomes. The acting with awareness facet of mindfulness was negatively related to burnout and depression. Performance was both negatively and positively related to stress outcomes. The results are discussed within the context of the current literature

Elucidation Of The Role Played By Fungus Gnats (Diptera: Sciaridae) In The Transmission Of Pythium Root Rot Diseases Of Floriculture Crops

Fungus gnats of the genus Bradysia (Diptera: Sciaridae) are ubiquitous pests in greenhouse crop-production systems. Because of their association with decaying vegetation, fungus gnats are commonly found to coexist with diseased plants, and their role as vectors of plant pathogens has been questioned for decades. Studies have demonstrated that adult fungus gnats can acquire and mechanically transmit aerial spores of various fungal plant pathogens. However, a significant role in the transmission of pathogens that do not generate large numbers of readily transmissible propagules has not been demonstrated. The ultimate objective of this dissertation was to elucidate the role played by fungus gnats, Bradysia impatiens (Johannsen), in transmission of Pythium spp. to floriculture crops. Fungus gnat adults strongly preferred to lay their eggs on plant material infected/infested with a wide array of microorganisms, including Pythium, Thielaviopsis, Trichoderma, Beauveria, and Xanthomonas. Although fungus gnats were highly attracted to microbial activity, adults are unlikely crop-to-crop or greenhouse-togreenhouse vectors of Pythium root rot pathogens. Studies revealed that adult fungus gnats do not pick up or transmit infectious Pythium propagules from diseased to healthy plants. Furthermore, adult gnats do not likely carry Pythium internally as they are generally described as aphagous, and experiments revealed that Pythium ingested by fungus gnat larvae is not carried beyond the pupal stage. Larval fungus gnats are capable of vectoring some species and strains of Pythium in the laboratory, although this slow-moving life stage is unlikely to account for significant transmission of Pythium spp. in the greenhouse setting. Feeding damage by fungus gnat larvae induced resistance to Pythium infection, significantly reducing seedling mortality compared with undamaged controls. The findings from these studies enhance our understanding of the association between fungus gnats and Pythium in greenhouse floriculture