Early cerebral perfusion pressure augmentation with phenylephrine after traumatic brain injury may be neuroprotective in a pediatric swine model*

Objective: Cerebral perfusion pressureage, and current guidelines recommend maintaining cerebral perfusion pressure between 40 mm Hg–60 mm Hg. Although adult traumatic brain injury studies have observed an increased risk of complications associated with targeting a cerebral perfusion pressure \u3e70, we hypothesize that targeting a cerebral perfusion pressure of 70 mm Hg with the use of phenylephrine early after injury in the immature brain will be neuroprotective. Design: Animals were randomly assigned to injury with a cerebral perfusion pressure of 70 mm Hg or 40 mm Hg. Diffuse traumatic brain injury was produced by a single rapid rotation of the head in the axial plane. Cerebral microdialysis, brain tissue oxygen, intracranial pressure, and cerebral blood flow were measured 30 min–6 hrs postinjury. One hour after injury, cerebral perfusion pressure was manipulated with the vasoconstrictor phenylephrine. Animals were euthanized 6 hrs posttraumatic brain injury, brains fixed, and stained to assess regions of cell injury and axonal dysfunction. Setting: University center. Subject: Twenty-one 4-wk-old female swine. Measurements and Main Results: Augmentation of cerebral perfusion pressure to 70 mm Hg resulted in no change in axonal dysfunction, but significantly smaller cell injury volumes at 6 hrs postinjury compared to cerebral perfusion pressure 40 (1.1% vs. 7.4%, p \u3c .05). Microdialysis lactate/pyruvate ratios were improved at cerebral perfusion pressure 70 compared to cerebral perfusion pressure 40. Cerebral blood flow was higher in the cerebral perfusion pressure 70 group but did not reach statistical significance. Phenylephrine was well tolerated and there were no observed increases in serum lactate or intracranial pressure in either group. Conclusions: Targeting a cerebral perfusion pressure of 70 mm Hg resulted in a greater reduction in metabolic crisis and cell injury volumes compared to a cerebral perfusion pressure of 40 mm Hg in an immature swine model. Early aggressive cerebral perfusion pressure augmentation to a cerebral perfusion pressure of 70 mm Hg in pediatric traumatic brain injury before severe intracranial hypertension has the potential to be neuroprotective, and further investigations are needed

Free electron lasers with short Rayleigh length

To decrease power loading on cavity mirrors, a GauBsian mode with a very short Rayleigh length could be employed. We study the physics of the FEL interaction while shortening the Rayleigh length in the FEL oscillator. The results can be applied to the Industrial Laser Consortiumâ s UV FEL and to high average power FELs in general.The authors are grateful for the support of this work by the Naval Postgraduate School and the Navyâ s Directed Energy Office

Anomalous Diffusion in Infinite Horizon Billiards

We consider the long time dependence for the moments of displacement < |r|^q > of infinite horizon billiards, given a bounded initial distribution of particles. For a variety of billiard models we find ~ t^g(q) (up to factors of log t). The time exponent, g(q), is piecewise linear and equal to q/2 for q2. We discuss the lack of dependence of this result on the initial distribution of particles and resolve apparent discrepancies between this time dependence and a prior result. The lack of dependence on initial distribution follows from a remarkable scaling result that we obtain for the time evolution of the distribution function of the angle of a particle's velocity vector.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures Submitted to Physical Review

Using Thrifted Garments as a Learning Tool in an Introductory Textiles Course

Using thrifted garments for analysis in an introductory textiles course was designed to increase transfer of learning. Prior to the introduction of the assignment, students had difficulty transferring the information into contexts beyond lab samples provided in class. This assignment was created so students could apply course content to garments that they selected. Students were asked to purchase garments to cut up and analyze throughout the semester. At the end of the semester, each student assembled the results into a final report. Adding analysis of thrifted garments to the course gave students a real-life application for textbook concepts. The students’ selection of their own garments for the project increased student engagement. The project was effective for student learning, as they were able to practice skills learned in class on garments they had chosen, while receiving direction and feedback

Birthday Poem

Poetry by Azia Armstea

Race and Gender in Public Relations: A qualitative analysis of the experiences of women and women of color in PR

The purpose of this research project was to better understand the state of diversity in the PR industry by examining the unique experience of women and women of color working in PR. Using qualitative coding methods, five blogs by both women of color and White women were coded to determine emergent themes. While some themes were consistent among all authors, other trends emerged only among White women or women of color, respectively. From the personal and professional experiences of these women, these themes offered insights into the effects of both race and gender on the experience of female PR professionals

IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROFESSORIAL-STUDENT RACIAL MATCH AND ACADEMIC SATISFACTION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS

Background and Purpose: Although in most recent years, the academic achievement gap between African- American and Caucasian students have slightly decreased, it continues to be a national issue. Previous studies have found that African American students are more likely to receive disciplinary punishment, such as suspension or expulsion, causing them to have lower grades and higher dropout rates, when paired with a Caucasian teacher. On the contrary, when they are paired with an African American teacher, they tend to experience higher rates of academic satisfaction. These findings tend to derive from studies that solely focused on racial match and academic satisfaction in the primary and secondary schools; therefore, this observational study gathered cross-sectional data from 44 African American social work students to examine the relationship between professorial-student racial match and academic satisfaction in higher education. This study hypothesized that African American social work students paired with an African American professor would experience higher rates of academic satisfaction. Methods: Participants were recruited using convenience non-probability sampling methods. Eligible participants were self-identified as African American and current or former BASW or MSW social work students during the study recruitment period. Participants completed a short online survey. Data was gathered on the participant’s demographics, professorial-student racial match, and academic satisfaction. Participants indicated the number of courses they have taken in which the professor was African American to measure student-professorial racial match. Academic satisfaction was measured using a 7-item validated scale. Results: The participants’ average age was 29.0 (SD = 6.4, range 22-45). Majority of the participants identified as female (72.73%) with an even distribution of BASW and MSW students. Participants on average took 4.4 (SD = 2.3, range 1-10) classes in which the professor identified as African American. The average academic satisfaction score in this sample was 4.4 (SD = 1.2, range = 1-5), suggesting that on average participants had high levels of academic satisfaction. Findings from the Kruskal-Wallis test revealed a statistically significant difference in academic satisfaction between students with low and high levels of student-professorial match, ꭓ2 (2,44) = 7.70, p = .021. Conclusion: Findings underscore the importance of faculty diversity in higher education, which could enhance educational outcomes for African American students and thereby close the academic achievement gap

The Opioid Epidemic: Assessment of Primary Prevention Interventions in Muskingum County Public Schools

Understanding that the Opioid epidemic is much greater than an epidemic of mortality is critically important. This epidemic is also an epidemic of dependence, addiction, disability, and other severe adverse events affecting millions of people in the U.S. (Franklin, Sabel, Jones, Mai, & Baumgarter, 2015). The opiod epidemic is complex and can be considered a man made epidemic

Birthday Poem

“Birthday Poem” from The Quarry: A Social Justice Poetry Database. Photo by Keith Gulle