Pacific Union College (PUC) is a private liberal arts college in Angwin, California. It is the only four-year college in Napa County. It is a coeducational residential college with an almost exclusively undergraduate student body.PUC is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and maintains various programmatic accreditations for specific programs. It is affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It was the 12th college or university founded in the state of California. Enrollment at Pacific Union College is roughly 1,600. The school offers roughly 70 undergraduate majors and one master's program organized in 20 academic departments. The campus occupies 150 acres (0.61 km2) of the college's 1,900 acres (7.7 km2) in property.......61 km2) of the college's 1,900 acres (7..
Background/Objectives: Topical application of isosorbide diesters (IDEAS) derived from coconut and sunflower seed oil improve atopic dermatitis (AD) and reduce topical steroid use in adults. This randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trial evaluates topical IDEAS (isosorbide diesters) with colloidal oatmeal for pediatric AD. Methods: Subjects aged 2-17 with mild to moderate AD applied either colloidal oatmeal cream or colloidal oatmeal cream with IDEAS daily. Hydrocortisone 2.5% was used as needed. AD severity, itch, sleep, steroid use, and microbiome data were collected at baseline, week 4, and week 8. Results: More participants in the IDEAS group compared to the control group achieved EASI 50 (81.0% vs. 56.3%, p = 0.10) and EASI 75 (42.9% vs. 18.8%, p = 0.12) and achieved a 4-point reduction in subjective itch at week 4 (45.5% vs. 6.3%, p = 0.0085) and week 8 (42.9% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.045). Use of topical steroids was lower in the IDEAS group (3.4 g vs. 13.3 g, p = 0.012) and the relative abundance of Staphylococcus aureus was reduced after 8 weeks. Conclusions: The addition of IDEAS to colloidal lotion improved AD, improved itch, reduced the use of topical steroids, and reduced the relative abundance of S. aureus in the skin microbiome.
This study employs computational methods to investigate the stylistic and thematic dimensions of ninety-five essays from Australia's Quarterly Essay (QE). Despite the publication's name, many essays share features with literary journalism, including immersive investigation, first-person focaliza-tion, and narrative form. This corpus is compared with ninety-five texts of longform journalism 2012-21, as curated by the online platform Longform. By integrating stylometric analysis, topic modeling, and sentiment analysis, this paper explores the narrative and rhetorical differences between these two corpora. In doing so, it investigates how style, tone, and thematic fo-cus differ between the two corpora using computational tools, and whether there are key stylistic features that contribute to a deeper understanding of the term "literary."
Social workers and pastors often labor together in church ministry. With many pastors leaving, this qualitative research study asked 35 former pastors of the Seventh-day Adventist church what precipitated their exodus and what might have helped. Interviews, transcribed verbatim, were analyzed using grounded theory and the constant comparative method. Three major themes emerged: challenges with church members, difficulties with administration, and deficits in job-relevant training. Church members could be antagonistic or unengaged and unsupportive. Church administration was sometimes experienced as excessively controlling, arbitrary, and punitive, with rigid expectations that stifled intellectual, theological, and methodological diversity. Participants recommended training in mental health (both for personal coping and for aiding parishioners) and in practical skills needed to manage the job. Christian social workers can play a key role in supporting pastors and in training congregants how to better relate to their spiritual leaders.
Background The availability of specialty mental health clinical sites for pre-licensure nursing students has declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic, limited facilities, nursing school impaction, and faculty shortages. Methods This mixed-methods study evaluated the effectiveness of interactive virtual reality simulation (IVRS) in a mental health nursing course. Students completed 70 clinical hours, with 40 in direct patient care and 50 through experiential activities, including 12 IVR scenarios. Topics aligned with DSM-V diagnoses and the NCLEX blueprint. A control group from the previous academic year (AY) completed clinical hours without IVRS integration. Statistical analysis was conducted to compare three cohorts: the control group and two experimental groups. Data included cognitive test scores, quantitative surveys, and qualitative feedback. Results Test scores were consistent between the control and experimental groups, showing no statistically significant difference (P<0.5). Students in the IVRS group reported increased confidence in communication and improved therapeutic communication skills. Conclusion IVRS simulations represent a valuable educational strategy to address clinical site shortages while maintaining learning outcomes and enhancing student preparedness in mental health nursing.
