The Digital Revolution and Higher Education

Presents survey findings about the views of college presidents and the public on the value of, prevalence of, and experience with online learning, as well as the role of the Internet and related technologies in education and prospects for future growth

Efficacy of Vaginal Laser Treatment for Symptomatic Relief of Vulvovaginal Atrophy in Postmenopausal Women

Introduction: As women age and go through menopause, the decrease in estrogen that occurs with this process causes many changes in the body, one being atrophy of the vaginal skin, The thinning and drying of the vaginal canal as well as the external vulvar skin can cause burning, dyspareunia, dysuria, and even contribute to vaginal infections, incontinence and urinary tract infections1. This paper aims to determine if laser therapy can be used vaginally to treat vulvovaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women with equal or better results than the current standard of care, estrogen cream. Methods: A literature search was performed using PubMed and Google Scholar in November 2019 using the terms “CO2 laser vulvovaginal atrophy OR laser genitourinary syndrome of menopause OR laser vaginal atrophy NOT rejuvenation NOT incontinence NOT cancer”. This search was limited to articles published in scholarly journals within the last five years and filtered for title of articles only. See below for other inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: All seven studies included showed either a statistically significant improvement in the patient’s VVA with the use of laser therapy based on the measured outcomes or showed improvement with the laser therapy that was equal or not statistically significantly different from the control of vaginal estrogen cream. Discussion: Of the seven studies, three were cohort studies, and four were RCTs. Of the four RCTs, three used blinding. All of the studies were similar in their treatment methods but varied in their outcome measures and assessment timeline after treatment. Due to the two different types of studies analyzed, RCTs and cohort studies, it is hard to make comparisons between the two. This treatment is in early stages of research however, so all data is appreciated to gain insight. Conclusion: Overall the seven studies analyzed here show significant improvement of the patient’s GSM symptoms and quality of life, improvement in sexual function and objective improvement of pH, lubrication and vaginal maturation. While there are very few reported adverse effects and the data does show significant improvement in these studies, they are lacking in large sample size, long term follow up, comparable outcome measures and a lack of control group in some. The ability of three initial laser treatments, with possible yearly treatments after that, to show comparable results to every other night application of a vaginal cream is very promising and could vastly improve the quality of life in women dealing with this common health issue, but more evidence is needed. Based off the data found, the benefits of using laser therapy as a treatment for GSM/VVA outweighs the risks and adverse events but patients have to be aware this is still considered an off label option based on FDA approval. Recommendations can be made for use of laser therapy but significant patient education has to be done concurrently to make them aware of the reason for the lack of FDA approval at this time

NICU Parental Mental Health and Infant Outcomes: Effects of Psychological Well-Being and Psychopathology

Previous research has shown that having a child in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is stressful for parents and that parents of NICU infants exhibit higher levels of stress compared to parents of healthy infants (Carter, Mulder, & Darlow, 2007; MacDonald, 2007; Treyvaud et al., 2010). As a result of these high levels of stress, NICU parents are at risk for developing psychopathology. Studies have found correlations between parental psychopathology and lower scores on measures of psychological well-being such as self-acceptance and autonomy (Bhullar, Hine, & Phillips, 2014; Valiente et al., 2013). Additionally, research has indicated that some well-being characteristics, such as autonomy and increasing perception of control, may be a key buffer in preventing the development of psychopathology (Bhullar et al., 2014). Moreover, findings suggest that both parental psychopathology and well-being have implications for child development. Poor parental mental health has been associated with adverse child social-emotional development and increased negative affect (Gao et al., 2007; Halligan, Murray, Martins, & Cooper, 2007; Treyvaud et al., 2010). In contrast, parental psychological well-being has been linked to positive reciprocal maternal-infant interactions, parental warmth and control, positive parenting, parental responsiveness, and parental involvement and monitoring of adolescents, all of which are conducive to positive outcomes in children (Hill & Bush, 2001; Izzo, Weiss, Shanahan, & Rodriguez-Brown, 2000; Shumow & Lomax, 2002). The purpose of this dissertation was to conduct three separate investigations of parental mental health in the NICU, each building on the results of the other. The first investigation examined the effects of parental well-being on the changes in parental psychopathology symptoms in the NICU. The second study investigated how these well-being variables as well as parental psychopathology, specifically depression and acute stress disorder (ASD) symptoms, related to the course of infant illness severity in the NICU. Lastly, indicators of both parental psychopathology and well-being were investigated in relation to indicators of infant neurobehavioral status. Mental health questionnaires were administered to 97 parents of infants admitted to the NICU at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital at two time points. NICU nurses collected measures of infant severity and neurobehavioral status. Results of the investigation showed that specific well-being variables (i.e., personal growth, purpose in life, and environmental mastery) predicted change in depression and ASD symptoms over time. In addition, findings revealed that negative mental health variables were strongly related to the course of infant health compared to well-bing factors. Lastly, results also provide information about parent factors that influence early stages of cognitive development. Findings from this dissertation will inform researchers about aspects of risk and resiliency in parents of this population as well as areas that should be targeted in future interventions to help parents of infants admitted to the NICU. Additionally, results may be used to better inform health care practitioners in the NICU about ways to improve infant outcomes as well as to improve the experience and well-being of both parents and infants in the NICU

Parental Mental Health and Infant Outcomes in the NICU: A Pilot Study

Previous research has shown that having a child in the NICU is stressful for parents and that parents of NICU infants exhibit higher levels of stress compared to parents of healthy infants (Carter, Mulder, & Darow, 2007; MacDonald, 2007; Treyvaud et al., 2010). In addition, studies have found a correlation between improved parental mental health and shorter length of stay for infants in the NICU (Als et al., 2003). However, studies have not investigated the direction of the relationship between parental mental health and infant outcomes in the NICU, specifically whether poor parental mental health is impacting child outcomes such as longer length of stay, whether infant illness severity is impacting the poorer parental mental health, or whether the relationship between these variables is reciprocal. The purpose of this investigation was to implement a pilot study in preparation for a larger longitudinal investigation that will examine the reciprocal relationship between parental mental health and infant outcomes. This pilot study investigated the demographic characteristics of parents and infants in the NICU at the study site, the feasibility of carrying out such a study, as well as preliminary correlations between parental mental health and infant outcome variables. Mental health questionnaires were administered to 30 parents of infants admitted to the NICU at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and infant health measures collected by NICU nurses will be used to analyze infant severity. Findings will inform the sample criteria, measures selection, study procedures, and research aims of larger longitudinal study

Bonneville basin analogues for large lake processes & chronologies of geomorphic development on Mars

Journal ArticlePleistocene Lake Bonneville was a large (~50,000 sq km) terrestrial closed lake system in Utah, USA that developed during the Last Glacial Maximum (~20 ka BP), and persisted at highstand until a catastrophic outburst flood event ~17.4 ka cal BP and warming climate significantly lowered its volume [1]. Lake Bonneville and its modern relict Great Salt Lake (fig. 1) is one of the most extensive, well preserved, and best dated lake systems on Earth and can serve as an analogue for deducing the style of development and age of similar features imaged on Mars [2]. Lake Bonneville exhibits prominent shorelines, spits, bay mouth barriers, deltas, gullies, outburst channels, and playa lake features, including patterned grounds and downwind aeolian systems, all of which are features inferred from imagery of Mars landforms

Examining the Perceptions of Pre-Service Teachers Enrolled in a Community College

. This multiple-article dissertation examined the perceptions of preservice teachers (PTs) enrolled at a community college. The first study was mixed-methods and examined the perceptions of PTs’ teaching efficacy at a community college. A pre/post-survey was used to determine if differences exist between PTs’ perceptions of teaching efficacy after completing an education course at a community college. No statistically significant difference was found (p = .070). Five student interviews were also conducted at the end of the teacher education course. Themes emerged from the analysis of these interviews suggesting authentic experiences in the teacher education classroom and authentic experiences in the field were seen as valuable to preservice teachers in teacher education courses. Additionally, evidence of developing teaching efficacies were seen through the analysis of the interviews. The second quantitative study explored community college PTs’ perceptions of opportunity to learn about Multiple Literacies (ML) and PT’s confidence to teach those literacies. Statistically significant relationships were noted between each opportunity to learn about a ML and PTs’ confidence to then teach that ML. Furthermore, the study analyzed potential differences in the perceptions of PTs’ at a community college and PTs’ from a 4-year university, as well as their opportunity to learn about ML and then their confidence to teach ML. Community college PT’s reported statistically significantly higher opportunities to learn about Environmental Literacy (p<.001) and Political Literacy (p<.001), while PTs’ at a 4-year university reported higher opportunities to learn digital literacy (p<.05). Similarly, community college PT’s reported statistically significantly higher confidence to teach Environmental Literacy (p<.001) and Political Literacy (p<.05 while PTs’ at a 4-year university reported higher confidences to teach digital literacy (p<.05)

Instructional Improvement Through Individual Consultation

Theoretical Bases: Theory 1: Instructional Interaction Theory 2: Student Differences Theory 3: Change The Approach An Example: Step 1: Identify the Instructor\u27s Major Concerns Step 2: Challenge Instructor\u27s Concepts of Teaching Step 3: Formulate Alternative Teaching Approaches Step 4: Evaluate New Approach Conclusions Reference

Instructional Improvement Through Individual Consultation

Theoretical Bases: Theory 1: Instructional Interaction Theory 2: Student Differences Theory 3: Change The Approach An Example: Step 1: Identify the Instructor\u27s Major Concerns Step 2: Challenge Instructor\u27s Concepts of Teaching Step 3: Formulate Alternative Teaching Approaches Step 4: Evaluate New Approach Conclusions Reference