Radial Trends in IMF-Sensitive Absorption Features in Two Early-Type Galaxies: Evidence for Abundance-Driven Gradients

Samples of early-type galaxies show a correlation between stellar velocity dispersion and the stellar initial mass function (IMF) as inferred from gravity-sensitive absorption lines in the galaxies' central regions. To search for spatial variations in the IMF, we have observed two early-type galaxies with Keck/LRIS and measured radial gradients in the strengths of absorption features from 4000-5500 \AA $\,$ and 8000-10,000 \AA. We present spatially resolved measurements of the dwarf-sensitive spectral indices NaI (8190 \AA) and Wing-Ford FeH (9915 \AA), as well as indices for species of H, C$_2$, CN, Mg, Ca, TiO, and Fe. Our measurements show a metallicity gradient in both objects, and Mg/Fe consistent with a shallow gradient in \alpha-enhancement, matching widely observed trends for massive early-type galaxies. The NaI index and the CN$_1$ index at 4160 \AA $\,$ exhibit significantly steeper gradients, with a break at $r \sim 0.1 r_{\rm eff}$ ($r \sim 300$ pc). Inside this radius NaI strength increases sharply toward the galaxy center, consistent with a rapid central rise in [Na/Fe]. In contrast, the ratio of FeH to Fe index strength decreases toward the galaxy center. This behavior cannot be reproduced by a steepening IMF inside $0.1 r_{\rm eff}$ if the IMF is a single power law. While gradients in the mass function above $\sim 0.4 M_\odot$ may occur, exceptional care is required to disentangle these IMF variations from the extreme variations in individual element abundances near the galaxies' centers.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. Updates from v1 include an expanded comparison of measured index strengths to SPS models. 20 page body + 7 page appendix + references. Includes 25 figure

The Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Missouri: An Analysis of Needs Assessment

Introduction: Due to an increasing number of acutely ill pediatric patients and changing healthcare demands, there is an even greater need for nurse practitioners (NPs) to work in the area of pediatric acute care (AC). There is a lack of alignment of education and certification with the scope of practice of the AC Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP). The development and implementation of a graduate level AC PNP program in Missouri will support the alignment of education, clinical training, and certification with the scope of practice of the AC PNP and improve access to a quality program for nurses that currently live in the Midwest. This program will prepare evidence-based NPs to become leaders in the field of pediatric AC and to provide quality care to acutely ill children. Method: A literature review and thorough analysis of a needs assessment survey of NPs in St. Louis (112 respondents) were performed. Results: The survey showed that 69% of primary care (PC) PNPs work in an area that could be considered an area of AC. Twenty-two percent of the PC NPs would return to school within five years to receive their AC PNP certificate. When asked, “What would have made you feel more prepared to take on your first role as a new NP,” there was a theme among some of the replies. Interestingly, some of the respondents stated that they would have chosen an AC program for study had one been available or feasible for them to attend. Discussion: As a result of the survey and needs evaluation, an AC PNP program was developed. This program will provide a supply of AC PNPs to meet the needs of Missouri and the surrounding region. Furthermore, this will align the AC PNPs education and certification with the scope of practice

Postpartum Ketosis Treatments – Propylene Glycol, Dextrose, or Both?

In a controlled study of early lactation hyperketonemic cows (defined as BHB concentrations in blood of 1.2 mmol/L and greater), we compared the effects of drenching with PG alone, intravenous dextrose alone, or both in combination, to an untreated control group. Results of this study showed that the combined treatment with dextrose and PG lowered BHB concentrations to the greatest extent during the treatment period compared with dextrose or PG alone. The increase in glucose and insulin concentrations due to intravenous dextrose was short-lived, as was the decrease in NEFA concentrations. Difference in the effects of the treatments on health outcomes, intakes, and milk production could not be described due to the small sample size and short duration of the study. Follow-up studies of a larger scale are planned to compare disease and production effects for these parameters and to assess the economic cost and benefit of each treatment strategy

Using iPads to Increase Students’ Letters and Letter Sounds Knowledge

This action research was carried out to determine if the use of an application named Phonics Island would help student knowledge of letters/letter sounds increase. The research was completed in a full day Primary Montessori classroom of 4k and 5k students. Data was gathered using teacher observation and teacher made checklists. Data on students’ feelings toward learning letters/letter sounds was also assessed to see if students’ thoughts about letters changed after incorporating technology. Students were given an iPad for approximately fifteen minutes per day. The letters were grouped in categories, and the researchers chose which group the student needed to complete for the day. The students did show growth over the course of the sixweek study, but it is hard to determine if the growth was due only to the use of the iPads. During the six weeks, the researchers also gave many teacher-led lessons, and the students also completed many student-led, independent lessons that did not include technology. The researchers believe the outcome was due to a combination of iPad lessons, teacher led lessons, and independent lessons. More research could be conducted to test how influential the iPad lessons are by having a control group that received only iPad lessons for a few weeks

Career Motivation in Newly Licensed Registered Nurses: What Makes Them Remain

Despite vast research on newly licensed registered nurses (RNs), we don\u27t know why some newly licensed registered nurses remain in their current jobs and others leave the nursing profession early in their career. Job satisfaction, the most significant factor emerging from the literature, plays a significant role in nurses\u27 decisions to remain in their current jobs. This study examined the lived experiences of newly licensed registered nurses early in their careers. The researcher interviewed 14 newly licensed registered nurses to ask why they chose nursing as a profession and to determine factors that would influence their choice to stay in nursing as a career. Data were collected from newly licensed registered nurses through in-depth, face-to-face interviews, using a semi-structured interview guide developed by the researcher. Data analysis identified the emerging themes of altruism, self-fulfillment, challenging career, and the influence of role models as determining factors for nurses staying in the field. Findings suggest that those in positions of healthcare management should consider how they can create a workplace environment that provides newly licensed registered nurses the opportunity to fulfill these employment expectations

The Relationship between Children’s Gendered Toys and Display of Prosocial Behaviors

Despite the growing awareness of gender stereotypes, companies such as Disney and toy makers still create their products based on gender (Auster & Mansback 2012).Stereotypical feminine toys include dolls and similar toys which reinforce domestic oriented behavior, whereas the male toys included action figures, weapons, and vehicles which may elicit a different type of behavior. Although there is a category labeled for both boys and girls, the toys still presented more male-coded features (Auster & Mansback 2012). The masculine toys continue to reinforce stereotypes based on gender. However, another research showed that boys who watched Disney programs display less stereotypical behavior (Bussey &Bandura, 1999). Disney princesses are often portrayed to be attractive, docile and display prosocial behavior, who get rewarded for this behavior (England et al., 2011). Having exposure and being rewarded for more feminine behaviors further reinforces girls in consuming this media, while changing masculine behaviors displayed by boys. With gender labeling and identifying starting as early as 18-24 months (Todd et al., 2018) and reaching its prime around 3-6 years old (Ruble & Martin, 1998), the present study aims to examine how gendered toys affect children’s display of prosocial behaviors. More than 60 children were assessed in their verbal indication and physical selection of a favorite from a toy box consisting of gendered toys. Furthermore, teachers were asked to rate these children in the classrooms, using Social Competence and Behavioral Evaluation (SCBE, LaFrenier, 1995) to report children’s prosocial versus oppositional behaviors. We expect children who select female-coded toys will be more empathetic, nurturing, and willing to help others. On the contrary, those who select the male-coded toys will tend to be more aggressive and less in tune to the emotions of others. Detailed results and implications will be discussed at the conference

Crossing Borders for Civic Engagement: A Narrative Inquiry of Service-Learning's Participant Perspectives

Service-learning initiatives often serve as higher education’s approach to achieving institutional goals of fostering students’ civic growth. Alternative Spring Breaks (ASBs), defined in this study as short-term immersion trips developed to engage college students in direct service experiences, have been understudied as service-learning programmatic options in higher education, thus leaving little to no indication of the larger context of the service experience, nor its participant outcomes in terms of civic engagement (Jones, Robbins, & LePeau, 2011). This study addresses gaps in researcher and practitioner understanding of ASBs, by uncovering long-term effects of these widely utilized, yet under-researched programs. Through a narrative inquiry methodology, this study captures the stories of five alternative spring break participants from a mid-sized suburban private institution which organizes two domestic ASBs yearly. The respondent narratives speak to service-learning’s ability to not only engage students in cross-cultural experiences, but to also cross internal borders within themselves, challenging pre-conceived notions of otherness and social issues. This study highlights the aesthetic and emotive meaning participants ascribe to their service experience long-term, noting shifts in their civic mindfulness and cultural sensitivity as well as propensity to civically engage post- graduation. By studying students’ experiences with border-crossing, challenging pre-conceived notions of difference, and individual civic responsibility development, this study unpacks the alternative spring break participant perspective shift and development experience. Through the use of Dewey’s philosophy of education and Giroux’s theory of border-crossing, this study sheds light on the blind spots of service-learning, specifically ASBs, generating critique of the pedagogy in the hope of advancing the field, and ultimately the experience for future alternative spring break participants

Determining Function of Rv2173 in Biosynthesis of Menaquinone in Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is transmitted from human to human via respiratory droplets, is one of the leading killers among bacterial diseases in the human body (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). Although the cure for this disease is unknown, much advancement has been made in discovering one. A current focal point in research is how this bacterium produces ATP via menaquinone pathways, and how it is able to flourish even in stressful environments. We worked with a specific gene, Rv2173, which encodes for a product with an unknown chain length. It is believed that this product plays a role in the biosynthesis of menaquinone. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data indicated that the chain length of the product is 30 carbons long with a molecular weight of around 420. Discovering how menaquinone is synthesized can be useful because it can lead to the ability to target and inhibit synthesis, which Mycobacterium tuberculosis cannot survive without

Early Detection Of Mild Cognitive Impairment In Older Adults Through The Use Of Annual Screening In The Primary Care Setting

The purpose of this study was to determine primary care providers’ adherence to USPSTF (2015), and the Alzheimer’s Association’s (2013) recommendations and guidelines advocating annual cognitive impairment screening on patients ages 65 years and older. The Alzheimer’s Association issued an algorithm for detecting cognitive impairment in older adults; this cognitive assessment algorithm was accepted and mandated by U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services during annual wellness visits of patients 65 years and older. In addition to the Alzheimer’s Association, USPSTF acknowledges the increasing prevalence of cognitive impairment and the benefits of early detection. However, USPSTF argues a lack o f research and information on the subject; to which, the current study attempted to aid the increasing data on cognitive screening in older adults (USPSTF, 2014). This study examined the amount of primary providers’ compliance in completing cognitive impairment screenings of older adults, probable barriers decreasing provider adherence of implementing annual cognitive testing of older adults, and the preferred methods and tools utilized for cognitive impairment screening o f those adults ages 65 years and older