An Exploration of Effective Treatments for Domestic Abusers

This article explores the literature of three different batterer intervention programs (BIP) psychoeducational, anger-management and coordinated community intervention. Each model is evaluated for its strengths as well as its limitations. Evidence Based Practice for domestic abusers is discussed as no current model has substantial evidence to prove its efficacy

Healthy Seniors: Supporting Chronic Condition Management Through Educational and Motivational Materials.

Within the United States, the older adult population is rising and facing a growing number of chronic conditions (Mirza et al., 2020). Chronic conditions are associated with an increase in hospitalizations, functional decline, and healthcare spending. Largely, chronic conditions are managed under primary care physicians and treatment is not put into place until an exacerbation and hospitalization occurs (Mirza et al., 2020). Thus, a cruel cycle is created in which an individual undergoes functional decline, worsening of the condition, and decreasing quality of life and well-being. The older adult population wishes to age in place and manage their health; however, are not provided materials and resources to do so until an exacerbation occurs (Elliot, 2019). Although online resources exist through patient portals, older adults lack the confidence to access and apply them (Theisen et al., 2021). Purpose: To develop evidence-based educational materials for older adults to use to maintain independence and improve quality of life. Additionally, work to incorporate motivational factors for residents to self-manage their help.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesfall2023/1008/thumbnail.jp

Development of a tool kit to assist surgical nurses in identifying, preventing, and managing alcohol withdrawal syndrome

Background: Alcohol abuse is linked to over 200 different diseases, conditions and types of injuries, which lead to substantial costs to the health care system. Newfoundland and Labrador has one of the largest rates of excessive alcohol consumption in the country. Patients who consume dangerous amounts of alcohol are at risk for developing alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) when admitted to the hospital setting. Nurses could then be faced with the complex task of caring for patients who are undergoing both surgical recovery and AWS. Without the proper tools to identify alcohol use disorders (AUDs), and to identify, prevent, and manage AWS, it is exceptionally difficult for nurses to manage these patients, which exposes them to a variety of negative patient and health care associated outcomes. Purpose: The purpose of this practicum was to develop a tool kit to provide nurses at St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital (SCMH) in St John’s Newfoundland and Labrador with additional information on AUDs, as well as how to identify, prevent, and manage AWS in surgical patients. Additionally, educational material was developed for patients to inform them on the dangers of alcohol use prior to surgery and inaccurate reporting of their drinking habits. Methods: An integrative literature review was conducted first. The perceptions of health care professionals in surgical care at SCMH were then assessed through semi-structured informant interviews. Furthermore, an environmental scan was conducted to determine how AWS is managed in other health care settings. The development of the tool kit was guided by the works of Knowles’ Adult Learning Theory and Benner’s Novice to Expert Model. Results: Based on the findings, it was apparent that there was a need for patient and health care professional education regarding alcohol use and alcohol withdrawal. It was ascertained that the best means of assisting surgical nurses in caring for patients experiencing alcohol withdrawal was to provide a tool kit to educate them on AUDs and AWS. Conclusion: The tool kit was developed to meet the identified needs of surgical nurses at SCMH, as well as to inform their patients on alcohol withdrawal postoperatively

Hydrothermal oxide and nontronite deposits at Seamount 3, Wolf-Darwin lineament, Galapagos Archipelago, Ecuador

An unusual deposit of Fe-rich hydrothermal nontronite was recovered by remotely operated vehicle (ROV) from Seamount 3 of the Wolf-Darwin lineament, Galapagos Marine Reserve. X-ray diffraction, ICP-MS/ICP-AES, and SEM-EDS analyses show that this deposit is chemically and mineralogically similar to other deep-sea hydrothermal nontronites, indicating a formation temperature of about 30o to 50o Celsius. These Fe-Si-oxides and Fe-rich Al-poor nontronite deposits contain about 38-51 weight % SiO2 and 40-50 weight % Fe2O3. Although hydrothermal nontronite has been sampled at a number of sites by coring and dredging, this is the first in situ documentation of its sinuous, tubular structure on the sea floor. Image-analysis of ROV imagery suggests that this unusual pattern might be controlled by fluid pathways in the underlying pillow lavas

Embarrassed, but Not Depressed Eye Opening Lessons for Cerebellar Learning

AbstractCellular mechanisms of plasticity must be linked to circuit mechanisms of behavior to understand learning and memory. Studies of how learning occurs in cerebellar circuits for classical conditioning of eyeblinks are meeting this challenge admirably. Several recent papers have added to the richness of our understanding of cerebellar learning by correlating complex aspects of learned behaviors with hitherto underappreciated properties of the cerebellar circuit

Group A Streptococcal Septic Hip Arthritis in a Child With Spastic Triplegic Cerebral Palsy

Reports of septic hip arthritis in children with cerebral palsy are exceedingly rare. This case report describes a 10-year-old boy with spastic triplegic cerebral palsy (Gross Motor Functional Classification System), who presented with fever and irritability. This case highlights the difficulties in diagnosing septic joint arthritis in patients with cerebral palsy who are nonverbal and have limited mobility. A high index of suspicion is necessary in this population when presented with fever and new limitations in mobility

Evaluation of primary caregivers\u27 perceptions on home trampoline use

Trampolines are widely used by children, but trampoline injuries can be severe and may require hospital care or even surgery. This pilot study examined the effectiveness of an educational intervention on caregivers\u27 perceptions of trampoline use and safety for their children. Primary caregivers were recruited from the orthopedic clinic at the Children\u27s Hospital at our institution in 2015. Caregivers were asked to complete a survey at two time points, initially in clinic and one week post educational intervention. The educational intervention was a pamphlet outlining trampoline safety data. Data analysis occurred in 2016. From the 100 primary caregivers recruited, 39 caregivers owned a trampoline, and 10 had presented to the emergency department with their child for an injury related to trampoline use. After educational intervention, caregivers had higher rating of perceived danger associated with trampolines (6/10 vs. 8/10, p \u3c 0.001). Additionally, a greater number of caregivers were more knowledgeable on the safe age of trampoline use (56% vs. 91%, p \u3c 0.001) and safe number of jumpers (45% vs. 86%, p \u3c 0.001). Finally, there was a 29% increase in the proportion of caregivers who at least agreed that trampolines are dangerous (pre: 44% vs. post: 73%, p \u3c 0.001), however 50% of caregivers would still allow their child to use a trampoline. Overall, the results of this study show that a simple educational intervention can help to increase knowledge around safe trampoline practices and increase awareness of injury. Further, this study can act as initial evidence for future studies to implement this type of intervention long-term

Synaptic mechanisms for associative learning in the cerebellar nuclei

Associative learning during delay eyeblink conditioning (EBC) depends on an intact cerebellum. However, the relative contribution of changes in the cerebellar nuclei to learning remains a subject of ongoing debate. In particular, little is known about the changes in synaptic inputs to cerebellar nuclei neurons that take place during EBC and how they shape the membrane potential of these neurons. Here, we probed the ability of these inputs to support associative learning in mice, and investigated structural and cell-physiological changes within the cerebellar nuclei during learning. We find that optogenetic stimulation of mossy fiber afferents to the anterior interposed nucleus (AIP) can substitute for a conditioned stimulus and is sufficient to elicit conditioned responses (CRs) that are adaptively well-timed. Further, EBC induces structural changes in mossy fiber and inhibitory inputs, but not in climbing fiber inputs, and it leads to changes in subthreshold processing of AIP neurons that correlate with conditioned eyelid movements. The changes in synaptic and spiking activity that precede the CRs allow for a decoder to distinguish trials with a CR. Our data reveal how structural and physiological modifications of synaptic inputs to cerebellar nuclei neurons can facilitate learning.</p