Designing Acellular Injectable Biomaterial Therapeutics for Treating Myocardial Infarction and Peripheral Artery Disease.

As the number of global deaths attributed to cardiovascular disease continues to rise, viable treatments for cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction (MI) or conditions like peripheral artery disease (PAD) are critical. Recent studies investigating injectable biomaterials have shown promise in promoting tissue regeneration and functional improvement, and in some cases, incorporating other therapeutics further augments the beneficial effects of these biomaterials. In this review, we aim to emphasize the advantages of acellular injectable biomaterial-based therapies, specifically material-alone approaches or delivery of acellular biologics, in regards to manufacturability and the capacity of these biomaterials to regenerate or repair diseased tissue. We will focus on design parameters and mechanisms that maximize therapeutic efficacy, particularly, improved functional perfusion and neovascularization regarding PAD and improved cardiac function and reduced negative left ventricular (LV) remodeling post-MI. We will then discuss the rationale and challenges of designing new injectable biomaterial-based therapies for the clinic

Changing the Quality of Interpersonal Behaviors Between Pregnant Adolescents and Expectant Young Fathers: an Analysis of a Co-Parenting Intervention

The transition to parenthood is typically regarded as a difficult adjustment period for couples. In comparison to adult parents, pregnant adolescent mothers and young expectant fathers experience increased stressors during the transition to parenthood. There are significant implications for the wellbeing of the adolescents, as well as for their child, when the transition to parenthood is contentious. This study examined whether the Young Parenthood Project (YPP), a program focused on improving the co-parenting alliance, could improve the interpersonal interactions between adolescent mothers and their counterpart expectant fathers. Participants (n=106 couples) were randomized into one of three groups: 1) control, 2) care-coordination only, or 3) YPP, which included couples’ counseling with care coordination. The interpersonal behaviors of participants were assessed through two videotaped interactions involving the couple during the second trimester of their pregnancy (pre-assessment) and then six months after the child’s birth (post-assessment). Results indicated that mothers in the YPP group demonstrated more frequent “Affirming and Understanding” interpersonal behavior, a type of positive communication, at post-assessment than would be expected if the variables of gender, time, and group were independent. In contrast, mothers in the control group displayed less frequent “Affirming and Understanding” interpersonal behaviors at the post-assessment than would be expected if the variables of gender, time, and group were independent. Participants in the care coordination group demonstrated less frequent “Disclosing and Expressing” interpersonal behavior, a positive type of communication at the post-assessment than would be expected if the variables of gender, time, and group were independent. Participants in the care coordination group also demonstrated significantly more frequent “Asserting and Separating” communication, a neutral type of interpersonal behaviors, at the post-assessment than would be expected if the variables of gender, time, and group were independent. Results demonstrated that mothers in the YPP group displayed more frequent positive interpersonal interactions towards their co-parenting partners at the post-assessment, while participants in the care coordination group displayed less frequent warmth and more frequent neutral interpersonal communication at the post-assessment. These findings provided support for further exploration of the co-parenting relationship between adolescent parents

Advancements in Technology to Solve Cold Cases

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the crisis of cold case investigations and discuss the advancements being made in this area over the last four decades. Technology such as CCTV cameras, DNA Phenotyping, and Genetic Genealogy have allowed many cases to be reopened but there are still not enough resources or funds to close the immense number of unsolved cases. There are also ethical concerns being addressed to allow for this technology to continue to be applicable. In some instances, it takes a combination of preexisting technology and new applications to work around previous barriers in investigations. Despite the progress that has been made, research and resources remain a priority for the goal of closing cold cases

In Full-Term Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes, does Induction of Labor Increase the Risk of the Patient Requiring an Emergency C-section when Compared to Spontaneous Labor?

Abstract Background: Gestational diabetes (GDM) during pregnancy can have serious complications where an induction might be recommended instead of waiting for spontaneous labor (SL) to occur. With all labor, there is a risk of an emergency cesarean section (c-section). Women with GDM might require induction for their safety and the safety of their babies. According to the Mayo Clinic, problems that arise with GDM include the infant with excessive birth weight, congenital defects, and hypoglycemia. Women might develop preeclampsia, birth trauma, or delayed wound healing. The purpose of this project is to compare induction versus SL in full-term mothers with GDM and determine if induction causes an increased risk for emergency c-sections. The induction can be of any method which includes but is not limited to oxytocin, which is a synthetically prepared hormone that stimulates contractions of the uterine muscle, artificial rupture of membranes, and prostaglandin administration which ripens the cervix. Literature review: The evidence found indicated that induction does not increase c-section rates. It was found that delivering after 40 weeks increased the risk of women with GDM having an emergency c-section. The ideal time for induction in women with GDM would be between 38-39 weeks. Factors such as compliance with treatments, diet, and physical activity influenced the outcome of labor. Methods: Eliminate factors that increase c-section rates in women with GDM such as non-compliance with medication and recommended diet. Education on compliance should be emphasized during diagnosis of GDM followed by tracking compliance during monthly prenatal visits. Evaluation: Research will be analyzed by comparing women with GDM who are compliant versus non-compliant and determine if induction compared to SL increased the risk for c-sections. The outcome will be measured as having a similar or decrease in c-section rates among women with GDM in induction when compared to SL

Public Service Values and Disparate Performance: The Case of Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program

Public administration scholars accept that public service values guide administrators’ behavior. This guidance also derives from social and cultural values that motivate administrators’ individual attitudes. A part of the field recognizes that public servants play an active role during the implementation process through their daily use of discretion. Nevertheless, public administrators’ values and attitudes are rarely linked to policy implementation and organizational performance. In consequence, public policy evaluation seldom considers the role of values and attitudes of those implementing policy. This study examines how public administrators’ values and attitudes towards citizens shape policy implementation and influence organizational and program performance. The implementation and results of Section 8 HCV Program serve as case study to address the linkage between public service values and performance. The Section 8 HCV is the federal government\u27s major program that assists low-income families, elderly and disabled people to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. The Program allows participants to choose any housing that meets its requirements. This research hypothesizes that environmental and organizational factors impose a toll on organizational and policy performance and that public administrators’ values and attitudes towards recipients buffer some of these effects. The study employs a quantitative methods approach to examine and combine demographic characteristics of the communities that surround Public Housing Authorities -where the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program is implemented-, statistic indicators of the local housing market, Section 8 HCV structural factors of operation, levels of poverty and race desegregation in vouchers recipient, and the quality of their neighborhoods, to establish a correlation between Public Housing Authorities’ poor performance and less advantageous environmental factors, and vice versa. I conducted semi-structured interviews among Section 8 HCV Program’s case managers, directors and front-line practitioners in Public Housing Authorities in the states of Florida and California to identify the Public Service Values-based strategies that influence program’s implementation, and both, organizational and program’s performance. The quantitative evidence collected and analyzed in this dissertation indicates that environmental and organizational factors impose a toll on Public Housing Authorities and Section 8 HCV program’s performance. Meanwhile, the qualitative portion of the study suggests that public administrators’ values and attitudes towards recipients permeate the implementation process and influence Section 8 HCV program’s results

Striving Towards Efficient Curriculum Implementation

As an Early Learning Mentor Coach for a non-profit organization, my job is to ensure proper implementation of our curriculum within the classroom in order to be in compliance with our grant agreements. Through this process, I had to think of a way to support teaching staff and help them be successful without adding extra stress or hours to their workdays. Whether this was to be done through a binder, a reflection checklist, or a website, I needed to come up with something that was efficient, effective, and convenient for the teachers

Preventing Dental Cavities Before Kindergarten

The Monterey County Health Departments Oral Health Program focuses on providing health education to improve the oral health outcomes within the county. School-age children in Monterey County have high rates of dental cavities. The Preventing Dental Cavities Before Kindergarten project was a health education presentation for preschool parents. Its purpose was to reduce children’s cavity rates before kindergarten by increasing parents\u27 oral health knowledge and providing them with tools to support their children\u27s cavity prevention. To measure effectiveness, parents were given a post-survey in which 100% reported increasing their oral health knowledge. Additionally, preschool staff were interviewed and reported an interest in collaborating with the program again in the future. The results proved health education presentations to be an effective way of increasing parents\u27 oral health knowledge. Presentations should continue to target a younger population to further increase the success of cavity prevention before kindergarten