Lubbock Christian University

This cross-sectional, mixed-methods study explored new and aspiring chief nursing officers' (CNOs) perceived leadership effectiveness after attending an executive leadership development program. CNOs deal with complex challenges that require new leadership acumen. Higher CNO turnover and shortened tenure (2-7 years) indicate the need for specific, early programmatic leadership development to meet emerging challenges. An exploratory cross-sectional, mixed-methods approach was used to gain a deeper understanding of the impact, attitudes, challenges, issues, and leadership support of new/aspiring CNOs. Respondents indicated the program positively influenced their leadership development, encouraged them to attain higher leadership roles, and supported them to expand their professional network. Findings demonstrated the effect leadership development programs can have on new/aspiring CNOs and identified an ongoing need for development. Additional research exploring multilevel effects is needed to convey the return on investment for executive nursing leadership development programs.

Background: The 2018 Fourth Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction reclassified it into five subtypes, including type 1 myocardial infarction (T1MI), due to acute atherothrombotic coronary occlusion, and type 2 myocardial infarction (T2MI), resulting from myocardial oxygen supply-demand mismatch. In 2017, a specific ICD-10-CM code for T2MI was introduced, increasing its clinical recognition to medical providers. However, national trends in diagnosis and outcomes remain limited. This study evaluates temporal patterns in T1MI and T2MI diagnoses and associated in-hospital outcomes using a nationally representative sample. Research Questions: We hypothesized that the clinical recognition of T2MI has increased over time. Methods: We conducted a serial cross-sectional analysis of the National Inpatient Sample from 2017 to 2022. Adult hospitalizations with a primary or secondary diagnosis of T1MI or T2MI were identified using ICD-10-CM codes. Outcomes included trends in hospitalization volume, in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rates. Multivariable survey-weighted logistic and linear regression models adjusted for demographics and comorbidities using Elixhauser categories. Results: Among 7,119,208 MI hospitalizations, 5,102,779 (71.7%) were T1MI and 2,016,429 (28.3%) were T2MI. T2MI diagnoses increased 14-fold from 36,915 in 2017 to 531,445 in 2022, rising from 3.6% to 39.5% of MI cases. In contrast, T1MI diagnoses declined by 18.5%, with its proportion dropping from 96.4% in 2017 to 60.5% in 2022. T2MI patients were older, more often female, and had a higher cardiovascular comorbidity burden as shown in Table 1. The most strongly associated cardiovascular comorbidities with T2MI were obesity (aOR 2.58), pulmonary circulation disorders (aOR 2.18), complicated hypertension (aOR 1.65), congestive heart failure (aOR 1.45), and cardiac arrhythmias (aOR 1.39). Adjusted in-hospital mortality was lower in T2MI (6.9%) compared to T1MI (9.3%), while median LOS was similar (6 days in both). PCI use remained substantially lower in T2MI (1.0% vs. 31.4%). Conclusions: T2MI diagnoses have risen after the adoption of a new definition of myocardial infarction, while T1MI diagnoses have declined. Despite higher crude mortality, adjusted outcomes suggest lower mortality in T2MI. These findings underscore the need for dedicated management pathways and cardiovascular risk profiling for this growing population.

Antioxidants are critical components of the body's defense system, providing protection against cell-damaging free radicals responsible for oxidative damage of biomolecules. Humans benefit from the consumption of plants with high antioxidant content, which have been shown to positively impact health. In plant physiology, antioxidants provide protection from biotic and abiotic stress, particularly during the development of seeds and germination. Peanut seeds and seed coats have been shown to contain several beneficial antioxidants and are a good source of phytonutrients. Seed coat color can vary greatly and impact the antioxidant capacity of the edible portion of the peanut. Additionally, the seed coat can provide bitter notes in products, affecting their palatability and potentially negating the beneficial properties of the antioxidants present. A total of 42 accessions from the Germplasm Resource Information Network (GRIN) with a variety of seed coat colors were obtained and analyzed for total antioxidant capacity to provide a baseline assessment of the distribution of antioxidants in kernel versus seed coats. The results demonstrated that seed coat color somewhat impacts antioxidant capacity, and 56-88% of the total antioxidant capacity resides in the seed kernel. Three control samples, not part of the germplasm collection, were roasted and prepared for analysis by the descriptive sensory panel. Seed coats were added back to the roasted paste in increasing proportion for analysis by the panel, and perceptions regarding bitterness and overall organoleptic properties were noted. Based on the results of this study, several accessions were selected and then planted for increase and potential crossbreeding with appropriate commercial cultivars. This information could be used to selectively add antioxidant capacity to peanut breeding programs to provide additional health benefits to consumers without compromising the sensory perception and desirability and peanut products in nutrition.

Introduction and Objective: Insparin, a protein isolated from human adenovirus Ad36, promotes cellular glucose uptake without overt adverse effects. To eventually seek FDA approval for human trials of Insparin as an antidiabetic agent, here we conducted a long term preclinical study. We determined Insparin’s non-inferiority compared to Pioglitazone (Pio), an established antidiabetic drug. Methods: Six wk old C57BL/6J mice on a high fat diet (HFD) for 14 wk were divided into 4 groups (n=10 each) matched for body weight, % body fat, glucose disposal and HbA1c. Mice received 5 mg/kg bw (Pio) or 0 mg Pio in diet (control group for Pio), 5d / wk SC injections of nanoparticles containing 145 µg (INSP) or 0 µg Insparin (control for INSP) for 8 wk. All groups continued on HFD. Area under the curve (AUC) for blood glucose and serum insulin during the glucose tolerance tests (GTT), HbA1c, body weight and composition, and food intake were determined. Pio and INSP groups were compared to their respective control groups. Results: After 8 wk, INSP group improved glucose AUC (p < 0.0001) and HbA1c (p = 0.03), while Pio improved only HbA1c (p = 0.005). Pio and INSP groups reduced baseline HbA1c by 0.55% and 0.97%, respectively. Pio group reduced AUC for the product of glucose and insulin by 43% (p=0.01) and INSP group by 37% (p=0.14). INSP group reduced food intake (p = 0.003) and body weight gain (p = 0.04) by reducing % fat mass (p = 0.004), but increased % lean mass (p = 0.006). Whereas Pio group increased body weight (p = 0.02) and % fat (p < 0.001) but reduced % lean mass (p < 0.0001) without altering the food intake. Conclusion: Despite HFD, long term treatment with Insparin or Pio improved glycemic control in mice. However, compared to Pioglitazone, Insparin promotes superior benefit for glycemic improvement along with fat loss, a highly desirable property for an antidiabetic agent. The results provide strong support for continued development of Insparin as an antidiabetic agent. Disclosure S. Ranjbar: None. A. Patel: None. V. Hegde: Research Support; American Heart Association, National Institutes of Health, Insparin Therapeutics. N. Dhurandhar: Other Relationship; Insparin. Stock/Shareholder; Insparin. Consultant; Obthera. Other Relationship; Borealis, National Cattleman's Beef Association. Advisory Panel; Medifast. Funding Partly funded by Insparin Inc, and Helen Devitt Jones Foundation

The COVID-19 epidemic has affected all facets of patient care, including dentistry services, and placed hitherto unheard-of demands on healthcare systems throughout the world. More and more emphasis is being paid to psychological discomfort and dental anxiety that epidemic patients face when seeking dental care. The purpose of this research was to examine the psychological distress and dental anxiety levels of patients receiving dental care during the COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary care setting between 2021 and 2022. For this study, 300 patients with regular dental checkups were selected as a convenience sample. Self-report questionnaires measuring dental anxiety and psychological discomfort were filled out by participants. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data once demographic information was gathered. The majority of participants experienced psychological anguish (66.7%) and dental anxiety (73.3%) at moderate-to-severe levels. When compared to pre-pandemic values, there was a substantial increase in psychological distress (P < 0.001) and dental anxiety (P < 0.001) throughout the pandemic period. Current research shows how the COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the mental health of patients receiving dental care, underscoring the need of catering to patients' mental health needs in dental practices during public health emergencies.

Unlike conventional light sources, lasers possess unique characteristics such as coherence and focused nature. Consequently, numerous applications of laser beams can be enhanced according to their spatial distribution characteristics. This paper presents two patterns of change in the intensity distributions of Hermite Gaussian beams regarding the impact of variables, including relative phase, intensity coefficient, and order of indexes. By conducting simulations in Matlab, we generate various patterns of Hermite Gaussian beams by adjusting parameters such as order indexes, relative phase, and intensity coefficients. The superposition principle is then applied to calculate the spatial intensity distribution of the combined laser beams. Our results indicate that as the order of indexes increases, the complexity of spatial distributions also increases. We analyze the symmetry and rotational properties of the Hermite Gaussian modes, revealing reflection and central symmetries, as well as rotational changes concerning the relative phase. Our discussions focus on exploring the potential for generating complex optical fields and theoretically validating experimental feasibility. We provide a schematic representation of the generation process for complex structured optical fields.

A caregiver is a constantly evolving role that an individual most likely undertakes at some point in their lifetime. With discoveries and research in increasing life expectancy, the prevalence of neurological-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia, is certainly likely to require more caregivers. The demand for AD caregivers is escalating as the prevalence of the disease continues to rise. The projected rise in AD within the Hispanic population in the United States over the next few decades is expected to be the most significant among all ethnic groups. The Hispanic population faces unique dementia risks due to cultural factors like language barriers, lower education, and limited healthcare access. Higher rates of conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease further elevate dementia risk. Family dynamics and caregiving responsibilities also differ, affecting dementia management within Hispanic households. Addressing these distinct challenges requires culturally sensitive approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and support for Hispanic individuals and their family's facing dementia. With AD and other dementia becoming more prevalent, this article will attempt to expand upon the status of caregivers concerning their economic, health, and cultural statuses. We will attempt to focus on the Hispanic caregivers that live in Texas and more specifically, West Texas due to the lack of current literature that applies to this area of Texas. Lastly, we discuss the ramifications of a multitude of factors that affect caregivers in Texas and attempt to provide tools that can be readily available for Hispanics and others alike.