The Voices of Graduates: Informing Faculty Practices to Establish Best Practices for Readying NCLEX-RN Applicants

Changes in the National Council of State Boards of Nursing along with other factors influence graduates’ successful completion of a nursing program and the licensing examination. Literature is scarce in the area of examining stu-dent perceptions of preparing for and taking the NCLEX-RN examination. Our study sought to fill this gap in knowledge by conducting a focus group and interviews with individuals who passed the NCLEX-RN on their first at-tempt and those who did not. This was a descriptive qualitative study which used semi-structured interviews and a focus group to examine graduates’ perceptions related to preparing for and taking the NCLEX-RN. Four themes emerged from the data: messages from faculty, preparation strategies, exam readiness, and the disconnection between pretest and intra-test experiences. Findings point towards the importance of implementing a variety of strate-gies to ensure that graduates successfully pass the NCLEX-RN

Is synaesthesia an X-linked trait with lethality in males?

In previous research the inheritance patterns of synaesthesia (eg experiencing colours from graphemes) has been studied and it was concluded that synaesthesia is most likely to be the outcome of a single gene passed on the X chromosome in a dominant fashion. In addition, it has been reported that the female-male ratio of synaesthetes is as high as 6 : 1 and the families of synaesthetes contain more female than male members. This raises the possibility that the gene may be associated with lethality in males. In this study we replicate and extend previous research by investigating the female-male ratio and inheritance patterns in a large sample of synaesthetic families (N = 85). We were able to verify the authenticity of grapheme-colour associates in at least one proband from each family using internal consistency. As before, our results show a female-male bias and are broadly consistent with an X-linked dominant mode of inheritance. However, there was no evidence of male lethality (eg synaesthetes are just as likely to give birth to sons as to daughters). Moreover, our female-male ratio of synaesthetes within families was 2 : 1-considerably lower than previous estimates. We speculate that men may be more reluctant to disclose synaesthesia than women (indeed, our female -male ratio based on self-referral was 3.7 : 1). Finally, we discuss how the genotype may give rise to the phenotype in terms of changes in synaptogenesis or plasticity extending into childhood, to be subsequently shaped by the environment

Out of China. Auto-organization of Chinese communities abroad and transnationalism

Chinese society throughout history has developed various types of organizations outside the control of the state in order to defend and promote interests of specific social segments. Internal and international migratory movements from China have led also to the creation of many associations which differ by its objectives, functions and criteria for recruiting members. There is a debate about the control, or not, by the Chinese State on migrants’ associations abroad, as well as on their legitimacy. In this paper will be analyzed these debates and their connections with transnationalism, affecting concepts such as loyalty, nationalism, and “integration”.La sociedad china a lo largo de la historia ha desarrollado diversos tipos de organizaciones fuera del control del Estado con el objetivo de defender y promover intereses de segmentos sociales específicos. Los movimientos migratorios internos e internacionales de China han dado lugar también a la creación de numerosas asociaciones que se diferencian por sus objetivos, funciones y criterios para reclutar a los miembros. Existe un debate sobre el control o no por parte del Estado de las asociaciones de migrantes, así como sobre la legitimidad de las mismas. En este trabajo se analizarán estos debates y sus conexiones con el transnacionalismo, afectando a conceptos como lealtad, nacionalismo e “integración”

1861 - The Battle Hymn of the Republic

Document citation: Howe, Julia Ward. Battle Hymn of the Republic / by Mrs. Julia Ward Howe. Philadelphia: Published by the Supervisory Committee for Recruiting Colored Regiments, ?. Philadelphia, 1863. Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/98101743/.https://scholarworks.uni.edu/nhomefront/1006/thumbnail.jp

The MULTISENSE test of lexical-gustatory synaesthesia: an automated online diagnostic

Lexical–gustatory (LG) synesthesia is an intriguing neurological condition in which individuals experience phantom tastes when hearing, speaking, reading, or thinking about words. For example, the word “society” might flood the mouth of an LG synesthete with the flavor of fried onion. The condition is usually verified in individuals by obtaining verbal descriptions of their word–flavor associations on more than one occasion, separated by several months. Their flavor associations are significantly more consistent over time than are those of controls (who are asked to invent associations by intuition and to recall them from memory). Although this test reliably dissociates synesthetes from nonsynesthetes, it suffers from practical and methodological limitations. Here we present a novel, automated, online consistency test, which can be administered in just 30 min in order to instantly and objectively verify LG synesthesia. We present data from two versions of our diagnostic test, in which synesthetes report their synesthetic flavors either from a hierarchical set of food categories (Exp. 1) or by specifying their basic component tastes (sweet, salty, bitter, etc.). We tested the largest sample of self-declared LG synesthetes studied to date and used receiver operating characteristic analysis to assess the discriminant power of our tests. Although both our methods discriminated synesthetes from controls, our second test (Exp. 2) has greater discriminatory power with a threshold cutoff. We suggest that our novel diagnostic for LG synesthesia has unprecedented benefits in its automated and objective scoring, its ease of use for participants and researchers, its short testing time, and its online platform

Alleviating unprecedented pressures faced by the General Practice workforce: a conceptual framework based on the extent to which Wessex GPs think that patients presenting with one condition could have been seen and appropriately managed by another healthcare professional [HCP]

1. Outline of the problem/contextThe number of patients who are finding it difficult to make a GP appointment has increased due to a lack of sufficient resourcing for general practice (i.e. shortage in workforce: GPs and nurses, decreased funding and increased costs) in a context of rapidly growing demand, brought about by the rising demographics, especially, but not exclusively, ageing population with long-term and complex conditions (RCGP 2015; Goodwin et al, 2011; Rosen and Parker, 2013; Deloitte, 2014; Baird et al, 2016).2. Assessment of problem and analysis of its cause/ literature reviewVarious solutions have been proposed to decrease the GP workload while also increasing the accessibility of primary care: promoting NHS Choice website (Nelson et al, 2010); improving health and self-management (Goodwin et al, 2011); collaboration between GP practices (Naylor et al, 2013); multi-specialty or multi-disciplinary new integrated models of care (Smith et al, 2013; NHS England 2015; Snow-Miller, 2015; Roland et al, 2015; Matheson, 2016b, 2016c); telephone consultations (Longman, 2012); emails (Atherton et al, 2012) and e-consultations (Adamson and Bachman, 2010; Madan 2014; Longman and Diggines, 2014).NHS Choice website was deemed in need of more marketing (Nelson et al, 2010). Multi-specialty or multi-disciplinary new integrated models of care have proven to be successful (Langridge, 2015; NHS England 2015; Liles, 2016a, 2016b; Matheson, 2016b, 2016c). Improving health initiatives (Goodwin et al, 2011; HSIC, 2015) and collaboration between GP practices (Naylor et al, 2013) have been slower to show progress. Although deemed convenient and useful, physicians have been slow to adopt secure patient messaging (Wallwiener et al, 2009). Limited evidence, variable results and shortcomings in data in relation to email has been such that it could not be adequately assessed (Atherton et al, 2012). Telephone-based consultation have shown conflicting evidence: from popular and successful (NHS England, 2015, p38) to ineffective and leading to increased workload (Campbell et al, 2014). Despite various claims (Adamson and Bachman 2010; Madan et al 2014; Longman and Diggines, 2015) of increased access for patient and decreased GP workload, evidence for online consultations has demonstrated a lack of significant benefit and low uptake (NHS England, 2015; Matheson, 2016d).3. Strategy for change/aims and objectivesTo try and identify ways of closing this gap between demand and supply by investigating, from the perspective of GPs, the extent to which HCPs could replace GPs re face-to-face consultations with patients who presented with one condition. 4. Measurement of improvement/methods/outcome measuresA survey questionnaire one side of A4 would be sent via a Wessex LMCs mailing to be completed discretely by hand by GPs ‘live’ during a consultation using 5-bar gate tallies to count the number patients presenting with one condition who could have been seen and appropriately managed by another Healthcare Professional [HCP] and to indicate which HCP (out of a choice of 4) could best do this with free text too for choice of HCP.5. Effects of changes/resultsA total of 212 questionnaires were received from a total of 23 practices spanning 9 Wessex CCGs that recorded 4,303 patient visits with 35% assessed as could have been seen and appropriately managed by another HCP: 18.5% could have been seen by an advanced nurse practitioner; 5.4% by an extended scope physiotherapist; 3.6% by a practice nurse; 3.1% by a MH nurse; 2.6% by a clinical pharmacist; and 1.7% by other HCPs or elsewhere. Of the 35% of consultations that could have been undertaken by an HCP: just over half (52.5%) could have been managed by advanced nurse practitioners; 15.5% by extended scope physiotherapists, 10.4% by practice nurses, 8.9% by MH nurses; 7.4% by clinical pharmacists and 5% by others/elsewhere. 6. Lessons learnt/discussion/strengths and limitations6.1. Strengths-First time that GPs have actually been asked to audit their practice ‘live’ to determine how many patients could have been seen and managed by another HCP and to identify which HCP could actually have done this-The sample represented 13.7% of GP practices in West Hampshire and 15% of GP practices in North Hampshire.-The survey enabled a dashboard to be built based on the results of the survey that can be populated by individual GP practices so visualise expanding the role of HCPs 6.2. Limitations-No respondents from Portsmouth CCG and Isle of Wight CCG.-The results entirely based on the conceptualisation by GPs of the ability of other HCPs to see patients presenting with one problem and to manage them appropriately for one -Does not take into account patients presenting with more than one problem -A very brief snapshot lacking in depth and does not take into account the interplay of complex factors. 7. Message for others/recommendations-The project could be replicated on a larger scale and supplemented by focus group with GPs or an additional electronic survey.-Involve patients and other HCPs in the design of interventions.<br/

Object Detection and Avoidance using RPLiDar A2M8 and Jetson Nano

This project aims to design a sensing system that will have the ability to detect objects that could interfere with a drone that is in the process of landing. The implementation of this system includes the use of RPLiDar A2 M8, Jetson Nano, and an Arduino. The system outputs a green light once the program determines it is safe to land and a red light when an object is detected. Notifying the drone of any obstacles is necessary for various reasons, such as military usage. Since this project was built with a two-dimensional sensor, there were issues when adding the third dimension for accurate object detection and avoidance. This issue was solved by adding a tilting mechanism that was 3D-printed with two motors to hold and move the sensor in a range from zero to sixty degrees. Current outcomes include successfully booting and scanning an area with the LiDar and plotting polar coordinates through a Python program. It is expected that with the 3D-printed tilting mechanism, the Python program will combine the X and Y planes from the 360-degree scan with the Z planes from the tilting to plot clusters in a polar graph to show when an object is detected. Depending on whether clusters are detected in the specified range of five feet, the red light or green light will flash

Does synaesthesia protect against age-related memory loss?

Synaesthesia is known to be linked to enhanced episodic memory abilities, across a variety of stimuli and tests, but the evidence has tended to come from younger adults. This enhanced cognitive ability in early adult life, together with the known brain-related differences linked to synaesthesia (e.g., in both grey and white matter structure), makes it an ideal candidate for exploring the notion of ‘reserve’. That is, synaesthetes may be able to utilise additional cognitive and/or neural resources to mitigate against the effects of age-related decline. This was explored in a 2x2 design contrasting age (young, old) against presence/absence of synaesthesia in two different studies: recognition memory for digits, snowflakes and music; and visual associative learning. Synaesthesia and age had independent, non-interacting, effects on memory ability suggesting that, whilst synaesthetes show a memory advantage and maintain this advantage in later life, the presence of synaesthesia is not able to act as a reserve to protect against the effects of ageing. On our tasks, the benefit of having synaesthesia (enhancing memory) was of a similar magnitude to the effects of age (impairing memory); in other words, elderly synaesthetes present with ‘youthful’ memory abilities. It is important for future research on elderly cohorts to consider the presence of synaesthesia as an individual difference