Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation: Photo Section II

Adult wolves are very attentive to the pups. Both parents feed and care for them. Any older siblings similarly participate in pup care and feeding. Kin selection is probably the best explanation for the latter behavior. Top: Photograph by Isaac Babcock. Bottom: Photograph by L. David Mech

Perceptive responses and familiar staff facilitate meaningful engagement of older adults and family/care partners in long-term care home implementation science research during COVID-19

A novel registered practical nurse-led video conferencing approach using PIECESTM for team-based care planning was developed to engage family/care partners in the care of older adults. The objectives were to: (a) explore the experiences of older adults and family/care partners in collaborating in implementation science research in long-term care (LTC); (b) identify facilitators and barriers to engaging older adults and family/care partners in implementation science research; and (c) share recommendations to support the engagement of older adults and family/care partners in research. A qualitative descriptive design was used. Two older adults and two family/care partners from two Canadian LTC homes were involved in the research. Data, comprised of interviews with older adults and family/care partners, and notes from research team meetings, were analyzed using thematic analysis. Older adults and family/care partners perceived they made valuable contributions to the research project. They expressed beliefs that care delivery required improvements for older adults with responsive behaviours in LTC, which served as motivation to participate in the research project. Facilitating factors included the support of familiar LTC staff for older adults to engage in research activities and understanding the value of PIECES. A barrier to engagement for older adults was research terminology and processes described during team meetings. This research highlighted taken-for-granted factors in a collaborative research endeavour with older adults and family/care partners. One-on-one interaction, follow-up \u27reporting\u27 and presence of familiar LTC staff are needed to support meaningful engagement of older adults and family/care partners in research. Experience Framework This article is associated with the Innovation & Technology lens of The Beryl Institute Experience Framework (https://theberylinstitute.org/experience-framework/). Access other PXJ articles related to this lens. Access other resources related to this lens

The Grizzly, October 12, 1993

The Truth Behind the Conspiracy • U.S. Involvement in Somalia • Homecoming 1993 • Dave Binder: A Tribute to James Taylor • In Other Words • Ursinus College: Altar to the God of Apathy? • Letter to the Editor • Bears Lose Toughhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1321/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, November 16, 1993

A Message From the Class of \u2797: The Freshmen Finally Surface • The Crunch is On • Fundraiser to Benefit Cancer Patients • Whitman Denies Allegations • Does Date Rape Exist at Ursinus? • ProTheatre to Present Henry Play • Freeze Tag and Organ Music? • Date Auction / Lease / Rental • Silenced by Shame • In Defense of Greek Life, Part Two • Anesthetizing of Literature • Bears Finish Stronghttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1325/thumbnail.jp

Outcomes in patients with gunshot wounds to the brain.

Introduction:Gunshot wounds to the brain (GSWB) confer high lethality and uncertain recovery. It is unclear which patients benefit from aggressive resuscitation, and furthermore whether patients with GSWB undergoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) have potential for survival or organ donation. Therefore, we sought to determine the rates of survival and organ donation, as well as identify factors associated with both outcomes in patients with GSWB undergoing CPR. Methods:We performed a retrospective, multicenter study at 25 US trauma centers including dates between June 1, 2011 and December 31, 2017. Patients were included if they suffered isolated GSWB and required CPR at a referring hospital, in the field, or in the trauma resuscitation room. Patients were excluded for significant torso or extremity injuries, or if pregnant. Binomial regression models were used to determine predictors of survival/organ donation. Results:825 patients met study criteria; the majority were male (87.6%) with a mean age of 36.5 years. Most (67%) underwent CPR in the field and 2.1% (n=17) survived to discharge. Of the non-survivors, 17.5% (n=141) were considered eligible donors, with a donation rate of 58.9% (n=83) in this group. Regression models found several predictors of survival. Hormone replacement was predictive of both survival and organ donation. Conclusion:We found that GSWB requiring CPR during trauma resuscitation was associated with a 2.1% survival rate and overall organ donation rate of 10.3%. Several factors appear to be favorably associated with survival, although predictions are uncertain due to the low number of survivors in this patient population. Hormone replacement was predictive of both survival and organ donation. These results are a starting point for determining appropriate treatment algorithms for this devastating clinical condition. Level of evidence:Level II

Correlates of women's cancer screening and contraceptive knowledge among female emergency department patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lack of knowledge regarding preventive health services for women might impede campaigns to expand these services in the emergency department setting. For 18–55-year-old English-speaking women visiting an urban emergency department, we aimed to: (1) Ascertain their knowledge regarding the applicability, purpose, and recommended intervals of three women's cancer screening and three contraceptive methods; and (2) Determine if patient age, race/ethnicity, medical insurance status, and current or recent usage of these methods are associated with greater or lesser knowledge about them.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Emergency department-based survey on recent or current usage and knowledge about Pap smears, breast self-examinations, mammograms, condoms, birth control, and emergency contraception. Analyses included calculation of summary statistics and creation of multivariable logistic regression models.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 1,100 patients eligible for the study, 69.9% agreed to participate. Most of the participants were < age 35, white, single (never married and no partner), Catholic, and had private medical insurance. Participant's recent or current usage of a particular cancer screening or contraceptive method varied by type of method: Pap smear within the past year (69.1%), breast self-exam within the past month (45.5%), mammogram within the past year (65.7% for women age 45–55), condom usage during every episode of sexual intercourse (15.4%), current usage of birth control pills (17.8%), and ever use of emergency contraception (9.3%). The participants correctly answered 87.9% of all survey questions about condoms, 82.5% about birth control pills, 78.5% about breast self-exams, 52.9% about Pap smears, 35.4% about mammograms, and 25.0% about emergency contraception. In multivariable logistic regression models, survey participants who had private medical insurance and those who recently or currently used a given screening or contraceptive method had a greater odds of correctly answering all questions about each cancer screening or contraceptive method.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Although these female ED patients demonstrated strong knowledge on some women's cancer screening and contraceptive methods, there were several areas of knowledge deficit. Women without private medical insurance and those who have not used a particular cancer screening or contraceptive method demonstrated less knowledge. Reduced knowledge about women's cancer screening and contraceptive methods should be considered during clinical encounters and when instituting or evaluating emergency department-based initiatives that assess the need for these methods.</p

Flagellar ion channels of sperm: similarities and differences between species

Motility and fertilization potential of mammalian sperm are regulated by ion homeostasis which in turn is under tight control of ion channels and transporters. Sperm intracellular pH, membrane voltage and calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) are all important for sperm activity within the female reproductive tract. While all mammalian sperm are united in their goal to find and fertilize an egg, the molecular mechanisms they utilize for this purpose are diverse and differ between species especially on the level of ion channels. Recent direct recording from sperm cells of different species indicate the differences between rodent, non-human primate, ruminant, and human sperm on the basic levels of their ion channel regulation. In this review we summarize the current knowledge about ion channel diversity of the animal kingdom and concentrate our attention on flagellar ion channels of mammalian sperm

Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation: Photo Section II

Adult wolves are very attentive to the pups. Both parents feed and care for them. Any older siblings similarly participate in pup care and feeding. Kin selection is probably the best explanation for the latter behavior. Top: Photograph by Isaac Babcock. Bottom: Photograph by L. David Mech

Exploring the evolution of engagement between academic public health researchers and decision-makers : from initiation to dissolution

CITATION: Jessani, N. S., et al. 2018. Exploring the evolution of engagement between academic public health researchers and decision-makers : from initiation to dissolution. Health Research Policy and Systems, 18:15, doi:10.1186/s12961-019-0516-0.The original publication is available at https://health-policy-systems.biomedcentral.comContext: Relationships between researchers and decision-makers have demonstrated positive potential to influence research, policy and practice. Over time, interest in better understanding the relationships between the two parties has grown as demonstrated by a plethora of studies globally. However, what remains elusive is the evolution of these vital relationships and what can be learned from them with respect to advancing evidence-informed decisionmaking. We therefore explored the nuances around the initiation, maintenance and dissolution of academic–government relationships. Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews with 52 faculty at one school of public health and 24 government decisionmakers at city, state, federal and global levels. Interviews were transcribed and coded deductively and inductively using Atlas.Ti. Responses across codes and respondents were extracted into an Excel matrix and compared in order to identify key themes. Findings: Eight key drivers to engagement were identified, namely (1) decision-maker research needs, (2) learning, (3) access to resources, (4) student opportunities, (5) capacity strengthening, (6) strategic positioning, (7) institutional conditionalities, and (8) funder conditionalities. There were several elements that enabled initiation of relationships, including the role of faculty members in the decision-making process, individual attributes and reputation, institutional reputation, social capital, and the role of funders. Maintenance of partnerships was dependent on factors such as synergistic collaboration (i.e. both benefit), mutual trust, contractual issues and funding. Dissolution of relationships resulted from champions changing/leaving positions, engagement in transactional relationships, or limited mutual trust and respect. Conclusions: As universities and government agencies establish relationships and utilise opportunities to share ideas, envision change together, and leverage their collaborations to use evidence to inform decision-making, a new modus operandi becomes possible. Embracing the individual, institutional, networked and systems dynamics of relationships can lead to new practices, alternate approaches and transformative change. Government agencies, schools of public health and higher education institutions more broadly, should pay deliberate attention to identifying and managing the various drivers, enablers and disablers for relationship initiation and resilience in order to promote more evidence-informed decision-making.https://health-policy-systems.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12961-019-0516-0Publisher's versio

Factors affecting engagement between academic faculty and decision-makers: learnings and priorities for a school of public health

Abstract Background Schools of public health (SPHs) are increasingly being recognised as important contributors of human, social and intellectual capital relevant to health policy and decision-making. Few studies within the implementation science literature have systematically examined knowledge exchange experiences within this specific organisational context. The purpose of this study was therefore to elicit whether documented facilitators and barriers to engaging with government decision-makers resonates within an academic SPH context. We sought to understand the variations in such experiences at four different levels of government decision-making. Furthermore, we sought to elicit intervention priorities as identified by faculty. Methods Between May and December 2016, 211 (34%) of 627 eligible full-time faculty across one SPH in the United States of America participated in a survey on engagement with decision-makers at the city, state, federal and global government levels. Surveys were administered face-to-face or via Skype. Descriptive data as well as tests of association and logistic regression analyses were conducted using STATA. Results Over three-quarters of respondents identified colleagues with ties to decision-makers, institutional affiliation and conducting policy-relevant research as the highest facilitators. Several identified time constraints, academic incentives and financial support as important contributors to engagement. Faculty characteristics, such as research areas of expertise, career track and faculty rank, were found to be statistically significantly associated with facilitators. The top three intervention priorities that emerged were (1) creating incentives for engagement, (2) providing funding for engagement and (3) inculcating an institutional culture around engagement. Conclusions The data suggest that five principal categories of factors – individual characteristics, institutional environment, relational dynamics, research focus and funder policies – affect the willingness and ability of academic faculty to engage with government decision-makers. This study suggests that SPHs could enhance the relevance of their role in health policy decision-making by (1) periodically measuring engagement with decision-makers; (2) enhancing individual capacity in knowledge translation and communication, taking faculty characteristics into account; (3) institutionalising a culture that supports policies and practices for engagement in decision-making processes; and (4) creating a strategy to expand and nurture trusted, relevant networks and relationships with decision-makers