Supporting Faculty, Staff, and Student-Parents though Cognitive, Emotional, and Behavioral Engagement

Presenters will describe intentionally developed supports for faculty, staff, and students with children, an aspect of diversity and inclusion often overlooked. Participants will see specific examples of ongoing initiatives, along with a theory of engagement that articulates cognitive, behavioral, and emotional/personal aspects

Evaluating Supports for “All But Dissertation” Students

The authors of this roundtable session will lead a discussion debating effective methods for evaluating support services for “All But Dissertation” students to better focus university resources

Evaluating Supports for “All But Dissertation” Students

The authors of this roundtable session will lead a discussion debating effective methods for evaluating support services for “All But Dissertation” students to better focus university resources

Evaluation of the Whānau Ora Wellbeing Service of Te Whakaruruhau: Final report

Domestic violence and child abuse represent significant threats to whānau ora. Conversely, the weakening or loss of whānau ties can increase the vulnerability of whānau members to domestic violence and child abuse. Thus enhancing whānau ora in the context of domestic violence and child abuse is both a high priority and a significant challenge. Te Whakaruruhau Māori Women’s Refuge has been providing safe housing, support and advocacy to women and children for over two decades and has become a key agency in family violence networks in Kirikiriroa. The development of the Whānau Ora Wellbeing Service, the focus of this evaluation, was a logical extension of Refuge services. The Māori and Psychology Research Unit was commissioned in mid‐2011 to conduct this evaluation. It is based on ten case studies of clients in the programme, interviews with Te Whakaruruhau staff and key informants in allied agencies, and participant‐observation of Refuge activities. The case studies provide insights into the lived experience of women dealing with violence, their attempts to protect themselves and their children, and their experiences of – and reflections upon – the Whānau Ora Wellbeing programme

Methyl-β-cyclodextrin restores the structure and function of pulmonary surfactant films impaired by cholesterol

AbstractPulmonary surfactant, a defined mixture of lipids and proteins, imparts very low surface tension to the lung–air interface by forming an incompressible film. In acute respiratory distress syndrome and other respiratory conditions, this function is impaired by a number of factors, among which is an increase of cholesterol in surfactant. The current study shows in vitro that cholesterol can be extracted from surfactant and function subsequently restored to dysfunctional surfactant films in a dose-dependent manner by methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD). Bovine lipid extract surfactant was supplemented with cholesterol to serve as a model of dysfunctional surfactant. Likewise, when cholesterol in a complex with MβCD (“water-soluble cholesterol”) was added in aqueous solution, surfactant films were rendered dysfunctional. Atomic force microscopy showed recovery of function by MβCD is accompanied by the re-establishment of the native film structure of a lipid monolayer with scattered areas of lipid bilayer stacks, whereas dysfunctional films lacked bilayers. The current study expands upon a recent perspective of surfactant inactivation in disease and suggests a potential treatment

Needle aspiration as therapeutic management for suppurative cervical lymphadenitis in children

PurposeThis study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of the needle aspiration alternative to open surgical drainage of children with suppurative cervical lymphadenitis requiring surgical drainage.MethodsFrom January 1998 to June 2008, we retrospectively reviewed 38 children treated with needle aspiration as management with suppurative cervical lymphadenitis instead of open surgical drainage.ResultsAll 38 children underwent only 1 puncture. Two patients (5.2%) out of 38 patients experienced reformation of an abscess and all recovered completely after re-treatment with antibiotics. Minor complications were detected in 2 patients (5.2%). One complication originated from remnant necrotic tissue and the other involved formation of a small scar in two patients, which resolved spontaneously. There were no major complications.ConclusionNeedle aspiration can be a simple, safe, and effective alternative procedure to open surgical drainage of children with suppurative cervical lymphadenitis requiring surgical drainage

The impact of changing work schedules on American firefighters’ sleep patterns and well-being

Across the nation, fire departments are adopting the 48/96 work schedule, in which firefighters work 48 consecutive hours with the following 96 hours off. Our study objective was to explain and quantify the impact of switching from the Kelly schedule to the 48/96 schedule by measuring changes in sleep, feelings of daytime function, as well as perceptions of professional and personal well-being for American firefighters. Sleep diaries and self-reported surveys were administered to firefighters at an urban fire department. Sleep diaries measuring the number of hours slept and feelings of refreshment were compared one month before and four months after implementation of the 48/96 schedule. The self-reported surveys measured sleepiness levels via the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Secondary study objectives included changes in professional and personal well-being time for personal schedules, satisfaction, and health habits before and after the 48/96 schedule was implemented. The 59 firefighters included in the study reported an increase in sleep on-shift after the new schedule implementation (5.8 to 6.6 hours/night, p < 0.001). Participants also reported increased feelings of refreshment on days off (p < 0.001) and decreased daytime sleepiness (p < 0.001). We also found a general trend of improved perceptions of satisfaction, less shift interference with personal schedules and decreased feelings of burnout. American firefighters appeared to benefit from a 48/96 schedule, with short-term improvements in sleep patterns, feelings of burnout, and time for personal schedules

Lower NPAS3 expression during the later stages of abnormal lung development in rat congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Purpose Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is characterized by a developmental defect in the diaphragm, pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension. NPAS3 is a PAS domain transcription factor regulating Drosophila tracheogenesis. NPAS3 null mice develop pulmonary hypoplasia in utero and die after birth due to respiratory failure. We aimed to evaluate NPAS3 expres- sion during normal and abnormal lung development due to CDH. Methods CDH was induced by administering 100 mg/ml nitrofen to time-pregnant dams on embryonic day (E) 9 of gestation. Lungs were isolated on E15, E18 and E21 and NPAS3 localization was determined by immunohisto- chemistry and quantified using Western blotting. Results We found that only E21 hypoplastic CDH lungs have reduced expression of NPAS3 in the terminal sac- cules. Western blotting confirmed the down-regulation of NPAS3 protein in the nitrofen-induced hypoplastic lungs. Conclusions We demonstrate for the first time that ni- trofen-induced hypoplastic CDH lungs have reduced NPAS3 expression in the terminal saccules during the later stages of abnormal lung development. Our findings suggest that NPAS3 is associated with pulmonary hypoplasia in CDH.Supported by the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba; RK is the recipient of a Career Enhancement Award from the Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program and a New Investigator Salary Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Manitoba Lung Association and the Children’s Hospital Research Institute