School Nurses’ Participation in Accommodations for Children with Epilepsy: A Quality Improvement Project

Abstract Epilepsy is the most frequent, chronic, neurological condition in childhood, impacting 0.5 to 1% of the population. Documented learning problems associated with childhood epilepsy include memory problems, attention deficits, reading difficulties, and processing speed abnormalities. Epilepsy also impacts psychological health with poor self-esteem, a high incidence of bullying, and poor school performance. The Every Student Succeeds Act identifies the school nurse as a leader in chronic disease management; advocating for students to receive the resources and support they need to achieve academic success. The large Midwestern school system, studied in this capstone project, has 804 known students with epilepsy. The intervention of this project was an educational program for school nurses about epilepsy and its impact on both learning and self-esteem. The long-term goal would be to identify students not achieving their optimal level of academic success, due to their epilepsy, and implement appropriate interventions. Dr. Wodrich’s Epilepsy Knowledge Test was used to assess gain in overall epilepsy knowledge after a teaching intervention with school nurses. Demographic data was gathered to assess for associations between demographic data and epilepsy knowledge. Descriptive statistics and a paired t-test were used for data analysis. Results showed an overall increase in knowledge between the pretest (M= 17.8, SD 2.6) to post-test (M = 20.4, SD 3.1), t (5.8), p \u3c0.001. Limitations of the study included small variable numbers, making statistical inferences difficult, and population access problems related to Covid-19 protocols. Keywords: epilepsy, learning disabilities, child, school nurse, studen

Everyone should be able to choose how they get around : How Topeka, Kansas, passed a complete streets resolution

BACKGROUND: Regular physical activity can help prevent chronic diseases, yet only half of US adults meet national physical activity guidelines. One barrier to physical activity is a lack of safe places to be active, such as bike paths and sidewalks. Complete Streets, streets designed to enable safe access for all users, can help provide safe places for activity. COMMUNITY CONTEXT: This community case study presents results from interviews with residents and policymakers of Topeka, Kansas, who played an integral role in the passage of a Complete Streets resolution in 2009. It describes community engagement processes used to include stakeholders, assess existing roads and sidewalks, and communicate with the public and decision-makers. METHODS: Key informant interviews were conducted with city council members and members of Heartland Healthy Neighborhoods in Topeka to learn how they introduced a Complete Streets resolution and the steps they took to ensure its successful passage in the City Council. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed by using focused-coding qualitative analysis. OUTCOME: Results included lessons learned from the process of passing the Complete Streets resolution and advice from participants for other communities interested in creating Complete Streets in their communities. INTERPRETATION: Lessons learned can apply to other communities pursuing Complete Streets. Examples include clearly defining Complete Streets; educating the public, advocates, and decision-makers about Complete Streets and how this program enhances a community; building a strong and diverse network of supporters; and using stories and examples from other communities with Complete Streets to build a convincing case

FOOT STRIKE PATTERN trends in sub-elite half marathon runners

The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in foot strike patterns throughout a sub elite half-marathon and examine the relationship between foot strike pattern and race performance. Race participants were filmed at mile 2, 5.5 and 12.5. Video was analysed to determine if participants used a forefoot, mid-foot strike or rear foot strike pattern at each camera. Furthermore participants were broken down in performance groups of 50 based off of time taken to reach each camera. At mile 5.5 and 12.5 significant difference in foot strike pattern (

Low State, Phase-Resolved IR Spectroscopy of VV Puppis

We present phase-resolved low resolution $JHK$ and higher resolution $K$-band spectroscopy of the polar VV Pup. All observations were obtained when VV Pup was in a low accretion state having a K magnitude near 15. The low resolution observations reveal cyclotron emission in the $J$ band during some phases, consistent with an origin near the active 30.5 MG pole on the white dwarf. The secondary in VV Pup appears to be a normal M7V star and we find that the $H$ and $K$ band fluxes are entirely due to this star at all orbital phases during the low accretion state. We use our higher resolution Keck spectroscopy to produce the first $K$-band radial velocity curve for VV Pup. Our orbital solution yields $K_2$=414$\pm27$ km sec$^{-1}$ and leads to mass estimates of M$_1$=0.73$\pm$0.05 M$_{\odot}$ and M$_2$=0.10$\pm$0.02 M$_{\odot}$. We find that the mass accretion rates during the normal low states of the polars VV Pup, EF Eri, and EQ Cet are near 10$^{-13}$ M$_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$. The fact that \.M is not zero in low state polars indicates active secondary stars in these binary systems, including the sub-stellar donor star present in EF Eri.Comment: Accepted in Astronomical Journal 5 figure

A Convergent Synthetic Platform for Single-Nanoparticle Combination Cancer Therapy: Ratiometric Loading and Controlled Release of Cisplatin, Doxorubicin, and Camptothecin

The synthesis of polymer therapeutics capable of controlled loading and synchronized release of multiple therapeutic agents remains a formidable challenge in drug delivery and synthetic polymer chemistry. Herein, we report the synthesis of polymer nanoparticles (NPs) that carry precise molar ratios of doxorubicin, camptothecin, and cisplatin. To our knowledge, this work provides the first example of orthogonally triggered release of three drugs from single NPs. The highly convergent synthetic approach opens the door to new NP-based combination therapies for cancer.MIT Research Support CommitteeLincoln Laboratory. Advanced Concepts CommitteeUnited States. Dept. of Defense (Ovarian Cancer Research Program Teal Innovator Award)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award 1F32EB017614-01)Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (Postdoctoral Fellowship)Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (Graduate Fellowship)National Cancer Institute (U.S.) (Koch Institute Support (Core) Grant P30-CA14051

In urban South Africa, 16 year old adolescents experience greater health equality than children

Despite the strongly established link between socio-economic status (SES) and health across most stages of the life-course, the evidence for a socio-economic gradient in adolescent health outcomes is less consistent. This paper examines associations between household, school, and neighbourhood SES measures with body composition outcomes in 16 year old South African Black urban adolescents from the 1990 born Birth to Twenty (Bt20) cohort. Multiple regression analyses were applied to data from a sub-sample of the Bt20 cohort (n=346, 53% male) with measures taken at birth and 16 years of age to establish socio-economic, biological and demographic predictors of fat mass, lean mass, and body mass index (BMI). Results were compared with earlier published evidence of health inequality at ages 9-10 years in Bt20. Consistent predictors of higher fat mass and BMI in fully adjusted models were being female, born post term, having a mother with post secondary school education, and having an obese mother. Most measures of SES were only weakly associated with body composition, with an inconsistent direction of association. This is in contrast to earlier findings with Bt20 9-10 year olds where SES inequalities in body composition were observed. Findings suggest targeting obesity interventions at females in households where a mother has a high BMI

Associations between household and neighbourhood socioeconomic status and systolic blood pressure among urban South African adolescents.

Factors resulting in high risk for cardiovascular disease have been well studied in high income countries, but have been less well researched in low/middle income countries. This is despite robust theoretical evidence of environmental transitions in such countries which could result in biological adaptations that lead to increased hypertension and cardiovascular disease risk. Data from the South African Birth to Twenty cohort, Bone Health sub-sample (n = 358, 47% female), were used to model associations between household socioeconomic status (SES) in infancy, household/neighbourhood SES at age 16 years, and systolic blood pressure (multivariate linear regression) and risk for systolic pre-hypertension (binary logistic regression). Bivariate analyses revealed household/neighbourhood SES measures that were significantly associated with increased systolic blood pressure. These significant associations included improved household sanitation in infancy/16 years, caregiver owning the house in infancy and being in a higher tertile (higher SES) of indices measuring school problems/environment or neighbourhood services/problems/crime at 16 years of age. Multivariate analyses adjusted for sex, maternal age, birth weight, parity, smoking, term birth, height/body mass index at 16 years. In adjusted analyses, only one SES variable remained significant for females: those in the middle tertile of the crime prevention index had higher systolic blood pressure (β = 3.52, SE = 1.61) compared with the highest tertile (i.e. those with the highest crime prevention). In adjusted analyses, no SES variables were significantly associated with the systolic blood pressure of boys, or with the risk of systolic pre-hypertension in either sex. The lack of association between SES and systolic blood pressure/systolic pre-hypertension at age 16 years is consistent with other studies showing an equalization of adolescent health inequalities. Further testing of the association between SES and systolic blood pressure would be recommended in adulthood to see whether the lack of association persists

A case in support of implementing innovative bio-processes in the metal mining industry

The metal mining industry faces many large challenges in future years, among which is the increasing need to process low-grade ores as accessible higher grade ores become depleted. This is against a backdrop of increasing global demands for base and precious metals, and rare earth elements. Typically about 99% of solid material hauled to, and ground at, the land surface currently ends up as waste (rock dumps and mineral tailings). Exposure of these to air and water frequently leads to the formation of acidic, metal-contaminated run-off waters, referred to as acid mine drainage, which constitutes a severe threat to the environment. Formation of acid drainage is a natural phenomenon involving various species of lithotrophic (literally rock-eating) bacteria and archaea, which oxidise reduced forms of iron and/or sulfur. However, other microorganisms that reduce inorganic sulfur compounds can essentially reverse this process. These microorganisms can be applied on industrial scale to precipitate metals from industrial mineral leachates and acid mine drainage streams, resulting in a net improvement in metal recovery, while minimising the amounts of leachable metals to the tailings storage dams. Here, we advocate that more extensive exploitation of microorganisms in metal mining operations could be an important way to green up the industry, reducing environmental risks and improving the efficiency and the economy of metal recovery.Research of AJMS and ISA was supported by European Research Council (ERC) grant [project 323009] and Gravitation grant [project 024.002.002] from the Netherlands Ministry of Education, Culture and Science

Anti-CD25 antibody-mediated depletion of effector T cell populations enhances susceptibility of mice to acute but not chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection.

Natural regulatory T cells (Tregs) constitutively express the IL-2R alpha-chain (CD25) on their surface. Consequently, administration of anti-CD25 Abs is a commonly used technique to deplete Treg populations in vivo. However, activated effector T cells may also transiently express CD25, and are thus also potential targets for anti-CD25 Abs. In this study using Toxoplasma gondii as a model proinflammatory infection, we have examined the capacity of anti-CD25 Abs to target effector T cell populations during an inflammatory episode, to determine to what extent that this action may modulate the outcome of disease. Anti-CD25 Ab-treated C57BL/6 mice displayed significantly reduced CD4(+) T cell IFN-gamma production during acute T. gondii infection and exhibited reduced weight loss and liver pathology during early acute infection; aspects of infection previously associated with effector CD4(+) T cell responses. In agreement, anti-CD25 Ab administration impaired parasite control and caused mice to succumb to infection during late acute/early chronic stages of infection with elevated tissue parasite burdens. In contrast, anti-CD25 Ab treatment of mice with established chronic infections did not markedly affect brain parasite burdens, suggesting that protective T cell populations do not express CD25 during chronic stages of T. gondii infection. In summary, we have demonstrated that anti-CD25 Abs may directly abrogate effector T cell responses during an inflammatory episode, highlighting important limitations of the use of anti-CD25 Ab administration to examine Treg function during inflammatory settings