Exploring the relative influence of knowledge, values and risk perception on engagement in climate change mitigation behaviors.

As one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases in the world, the United States and its citizens will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in climate change mitigation. Yet, despite the scientific consensus on the topic, most Americans are not taking significant steps to address climate change. In order to understand this inaction and more effectively motivate individuals to change their behavior, it is important to examine the psychological processes related to engaging in climate change mitigation behaviors. This study examined the relative influence of knowledge, values and risk perception on climate mitigation behaviors among Columbus, Ohio residents. As hypothesized, higher levels of knowledge regarding the causes and effects of climate change, strong self-transcendent values, and increased risk perception were all positively related to engagement in climate mitigation behaviors. Contrary to expectation, values were the single strongest predictor of behavioral engagement, followed by knowledge. Furthermore, risk perception was not a significant predictor of behavior nor did it strongly mediate the relationship between knowledge/values and behavior. Overall, Columbus residents had only a moderate understanding of climate change, identified slightly more with self-transcendent values, as opposed to self-enhancement ones, and did not perceive climate change to pose a large personal risk. Based on these results, future climate change communication efforts in Columbus should emphasize the most significant causes of climate change, while also appealing to personal values. More research is needed to examine the influence of risk perception and why the variable did not perform as predicted.No embargoAcademic Major: Environmental Scienc

A Quality Improvement Initiative Aimed at Reducing Complications Related to IV Fluid Administration in the Acute Care Setting

Purpose: The purpose of this quality initiative is to bridge the gap between evidence and practice related to the management of intravenous (IV) fluids in the hospital setting and to increase awareness regarding important quality issues, highlighting the critical role of nurses in effecting change in the health delivery system. Significance of Project: The administration of IV fluids is one of the most common interventions in the hospital setting. The associated complication rate is higher than previously believed. Adverse effects impact recovery time, length of stay, cost, patient safety and survival. Related complications are largely preventable and unmet educational needs are well documented. An increase in evidence based management has the potential to improve patient outcomes that affect a number of quality indicators. Methods: The project was implemented at a mid-size community medical center. An educational initiative developed for bedside nurses was coupled with system level interventions to minimize risk. The content included recommendations from clinical practice guidelines and data from several studies supporting a shift to more conservative fluid management strategies. The sessions emphasized assessment skills and critical thinking to enhance therapeutic effectiveness and prevent complications. Project Outcomes: The project was well received by nursing staff and leadership. The anticipated effect will be a reduction in the overutilization of IV fluids, resulting in a lower complication rate. An exit survey indicated that the information provided would influence nursing practice at the bedside and the content was subsequently adapted for integration into the hospital’s RN orientation program. A prompt in the electronic health record (EHR) to reevaluate the need for IV fluids every 24 hours will be implemented when the facility completes their transition to an updated EHR system. Clinical Relevance: The assimilation of evidence into practice is an essential component of delivering higher quality healthcare. Nurses have a professional obligation to protect patients from harm and exposure to avoidable risk. Appropriate clinical management of IV fluids and early recognition of complications can prevent adverse events that negatively impact a range of patient outcomes

Some word changes in the Satyricon of Petronius

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University, 1931. This item was digitized by the Internet Archive

Who\u27s Left Standing for State Sovereignty?: Private Party Standing to Raise Tenth Amendment Claims

Although the U.S. Supreme Court in recent years has reaffirmed the substantive force of the Tenth Amendment, it has not resolved the fundamental question of who has standing to raise claims under the Amendment. The Court’s reticence on the matter has sparked a rapidly intensifying split between those U.S. courts of appeals that allow private parties to raise claims under the Tenth Amendment and those—currently the majority—that allow only states to raise Tenth Amendment claims. This Note argues that circuit courts denying private parties standing erroneously rely on dicta from the Supreme Court’s 1939 decision in Tennessee Electric Power Co. v. Tennessee Valley Authority, and that other Supreme Court precedent implicitly recognizes private party Tenth Amendment standing. Because recent Supreme Court Tenth Amendment jurisprudence, along with the history and text of the Tenth Amendment, indicate that the Amendment safeguards an individual right, this Note concludes that private parties should be able to assert Tenth Amendment claims whenever they demonstrate distinct, personal harm and satisfy other traditional standing requirements

Are water sector professionals worried about climate change? Examining the risk perceptions of water sector professionals through a systematic literature review and survey.

For water and wastewater utilities to adapt to climate change, water sector professionals must perceive risk from the associated impacts. In order to better understand water sector professionals’ risk perceptions, a systematic literature review was conducted, which revealed that risk perceptions toward climate change have increased over time and are linked to behavior and decision-making in the water sector. No identified papers in the peer-reviewed literature have studied professionals from sub-Saharan Africa, therefore, a survey was implemented to examine the perceptions of professionals in this region. We surveyed 90 participants at the African Water Association’s Congress in Nairobi, Kenya, and found that water sector professionals are concerned about climate change impacts on utilities, but are also worried about non-climate risks facing utilities. These findings highlight the multiple, competing risks utilities face and the need for adaptation strategies that simultaneously address climate and non-climate concerns of utilities.Master of Science in Public Healt

Adipocyte-derived extracellular vesicles: characterisation and function

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are submicron vesicles released from cells as intercellular communicators. EV research is hindered by a current lack of standardisation. However, mounting evidence suggests a role for EVs in both physiological and pathophysiological processes. Little is known about adipocyte-derived EVs despite the recognition of adipose tissue (AT) as an endocrine organ and the role of dysfunctional AT in disease. Obese AT develops regions of hypoxia and inflammation, leading to obesity-associated metabolic complications. The aim of this thesis was to explore EVs as novel adipocyte communicators, characterising their release under physiological and disease-like conditions. Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and tunable resistive pulse sensing (TRPS) were assessed for their accuracy and usability for EV quantification. NTA and TRPS both accurately quantified EVs though NTA was more user-friendly. The choice of anticoagulant, filtering and storage of EVs all affected EV concentration. Physiological EV release from 3T3-L1 adipocytes was characterised pre- and post-adipogenesis. EV generation increased prior to adipogenesis and EVs were enriched in pro-signalling fatty acids and proteins characteristic of the original cell. Therefore, EVs may aid the initiation of adipogenesis. Hypoxia was then used to pathologically generate EVs to mimic adipocyte obesity. Adipocyte EV release increased in hypoxia; these EVs were enriched in pro-signalling fatty acids and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. Hypoxic EVs were then analysed for their interaction with macrophages (Mϕ). Hypoxic EVs may increase Mϕ migration and promote an anti-inflammatory Mϕ phenotype; further repeats are needed to confirm this. Finally, adipocyte markers were detected in plasma EVs suggesting the presence of circulating adipocyte-derived EVs in vivo. Plasma EVs were also reduced in hypercholesterolaemia patients by routine apheresis treatment. In conclusion, adipocytes release EVs which may assist intercellular communication in both physiological and disease-like conditions. Adipocyte-derived EVs can be detected in vivo and may provide novel biomarkers of obesity-associated diseases

The state of coursework on horses in human services at universities and colleges in the United States: a scoping review

An increasing number of universities and colleges in the United States are offering coursework on adaptive/therapeutic riding and the incorporation of horses in human service areas such as psychotherapy, education, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology. The first study to identify coursework in these areas was published in 2018. In order to track development over time, we conducted a replication study to determine the prevalence of coursework on horses in human services at higher education institutions. Information gathered for the 2021–2022 academic year included the institution name, geographic location, number of courses and their focus, academic department offering the course, and level of study. We identified 122 courses provided by 48 higher education institutions in 29 states in the following areas: adaptive/therapeutic riding (N = 82, 67.2%), mental health (N = 19, 15.6%), education/learning (N = 2, 1.6%), and equine movement in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology (hippotherapy) (N = 1, 0.8%). Survey or overview courses (N = 18, 14.8%) were also identified. These courses were offered both at the undergraduate (N = 114, 93.4%) and the graduate level (N = 8, 6.6%) by a total of 48 departments that either focused on animals, such as equine science, animal science, and agriculture (N = 27, 54%) or focused on humans, such as health science or liberal arts (N = 23, 46%). The results inform a discussion on changes over time as well as current challenges and opportunities for academic programs offering coursework about horses in human services

Urachal endometrioma: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>We discuss a rare presentation of an unusual case of endometrioma.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 40-year-old Caucasian woman presented with subacute abdominal pain and a suprapubic mass. A final diagnosis was made after the mass was resected and histopathology confirmed an endometrioma originating from an urachal remnant. Select imaging studies and histopathology are presented in this case report.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>While endometriomata are well known to arise from abdominal scars, the condition described in this case report is a rare example of an endometrioma arising from the urachus. A review of the pathological complications of the urachus is also included.</p

Treatment algorithm for infants diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy through newborn screening

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by the degeneration of alpha motor neurons in the spinal cord, leading to muscular atrophy. SMA is caused by deletions or mutations in the survival motor neuron 1 gene (SMN1). In humans, a nearly identical copy gene, SMN2, is present. Because SMN2 has been shown to decrease disease severity in a dose-dependent manner, SMN2 copy number is predictive of disease severity. To develop a treatment algorithm for SMA-positive infants identified through newborn screening based upon SMN2 copy number. A working group comprised of 15 SMA experts participated in a modified Delphi process, moderated by a neutral third-party expert, to develop treatment guidelines. The overarching recommendation is that all infants with two or three copies of SMN2 should receive immediate treatment (n = 13). For those infants in which immediate treatment is not recommended, guidelines were developed that outline the timing and appropriate screens and tests to be used to determine the timing of treatment initiation. The identification SMA affected infants via newborn screening presents an unprecedented opportunity for achievement of maximal therapeutic benefit through the administration of treatment pre-symptomatically. The recommendations provided here are intended to help formulate treatment guidelines for infants who test positive during the newborn screening process