Understanding the Impact of Language Barriers and Visit Duration on Caregiver Satisfaction in Pediatric Primary Care

Background: Children from households that speak languages other than English (LOE) face barriers in accessing healthcare, leading to poorer health outcomes. Language barriers contribute to these disparities, often resulting in diminished communication between providers and families. Visit duration may play a key role in facilitating effective communication and improving patient satisfaction. Purpose: This study examines how language barriers affect caregiver satisfaction in pediatric primary care, and whether visit duration mediates this relationship. We hypothesized that caregivers from LOE households would have comparable visit durations to English-preferring caregivers but report lower satisfaction due to receiving less information within that time. Methodology: This cross-sectional study recruited 46 caregivers of pediatric patients at the Community Clinic, a federally qualified healthcare center in Springdale, AR. Participants were recruited at the end of healthcare visits and completed the Session Rating Scale (Duncan et al., 2003), the Short Assessment of Patient Satisfaction Scale (SAPS; Hawthorne et al., 2006), and a demographic questionnaire. Participants also consented to the research team accessing pediatric patients’ medical records to collect demographic and clinical data. The sample included 27 LOE caregivers and 19 English-speaking caregivers, with the mean child age being 6.82 years (SD = 5.67). Visit duration was recorded as the time between check-in and check-out. Statistical analyses included an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to compare SAPS scores by language preference while controlling for child age, and a bivariate correlation to assess the relationship between visit duration and satisfaction. Results: The hypothesis was not supported. SAPS scores were similar between English and LOE-speaking caregivers (p = .082). Visit duration was not significantly associated with satisfaction (r = 0.05, p = .367), and there was no significant difference in total visit duration between groups (p = .103). As a result, visit duration was not explored as a mediating factor. However, LOE caregivers rated PCP explanations significantly lower than English-speaking caregivers (p = .004), indicating potential communication barriers. Discussion: While overall satisfaction did not differ between groups, LOE caregivers’ lower ratings of provider explanations may suggest a need to more closely examine translation services for improving communication from provider to patient. These findings commend the providers at Community Clinic for their service to a diverse population but highlight the potential benefit of enhancing language access initiatives. Future analysis will explore visit types, results from the Session Rating Scale, and the impact of patient-provider language concordance. Further research should investigate qualitative factors influencing satisfaction, including perceptions of provider empathy, trust, and engagement, to enhance culturally competent pediatric care

Growth of Methanogens Using Pyrite as an Energy Source: Implications for Life on Mars

The search for life beyond Earth has been the motivating factor for many scientist’s research in the past and currently. Specifically, the efforts have largely been focused on Mars. Mars exhibits qualities that are similar to the life-harboring characteristics of Earth, creating the possibility for life to exist on Mars. Mars’ subsurface conditions may be ideal for specific microorganisms to thrive, providing a haven away from the harsh surface conditions (Mancinelli, 2000). It is known that one of the most important elements to support life, H2O is found in the subsurface of Mars, along with an atmosphere lacking oxygen, and an atmosphere with a trace of methane (Wray, 2021). Microorganisms belonging to the domain Archaea are ideal candidates for an extreme environment like Mars, specifically methanogens. These organisms are anaerobic, typically using hydrogen to fuel growth through methanogenesis, releasing methane as a byproduct of metabolism. Methanogens offer a solution for the methane found on Mars. The survivability of methanogens in Martian conditions has been studied in Dr. Kral’s laboratory demonstrating their ability to survive using limited nutrients (Kral, et al., 2004). This research project observed the growth of Methanothermobacter wolfeii, Methanosarcina barkeri, Methanobacterium formicicum, and Methanococcus maripaludis using pyrite as an energy source to fuel metabolism. Methane is a product of methanogenesis, allowing for growth to be monitored through methane output. The four species were each prepared in the most basic media, MM, and incubated in their ideal growth conditions. Two of the four methanogens showed growth using pyrite as an energy source, M. formicicum and M. barkeri. The two that showed zero growth were M. maripaludis and M. wolfeii. Further experimentation was done regarding the sterilization of pyrite and its effects on growth

Arkansas Soybean Research Studies 2023

The 2023 Arkansas Soybean Research Studies includes research reports on topics pertaining to soybean across several disciplines from breeding to post-harvest processing. Research reports contained in this publication may represent preliminary or only data from a single year or limited results; therefore, these results should not be used as a basis for long-term recommendations. Several research reports in this publication will appear in other University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station publications. This duplication is the result of the overlap in research coverage between disciplines and our effort to inform Arkansas soybean producers of the research being conducted with funds from the Soybean Check-off Program. This publication also contains research funded by industry, federal, and state agencies. Use of products and trade names in any of the research reports does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the products named and does not signify that these products are approved to the exclusion of comparable products. All authors are either current or former faculty, staff, or students of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, or scientists with the United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service. Extended thanks are given to the staff at the state and County Extension offices, as well as the research centers and stations; producers and cooperators; and industry personnel who assisted with the planning and execution of the programs

Thermal Design and Control of a PCB-based Solid-State Gas Generator (SSGG) Heater for Space Applications

This thesis presents the development and experimental validation of a compact, solid-state gas generator (SSGG) heater integrated into a printed circuit board (PCB) for use in satellite deorbiting systems. Designed for CubeSat-class spacecraft, the system produces gas via the thermal decomposition of sodium azide (NaN₃). The project emphasizes minimal mass, low power consumption, and mechanical simplicity – key constraints for modern space missions. The heater system relies on Joule heating through patterned copper coils embedded within the PCB structure. NaN₃ is deposited into wells drilled into the board surface, where localized heating initiates its decomposition near 300°C. A range of PCB configurations were designed and fabricated to assess the influence of geometric and electrical parameters on thermal performance. Experimental testing revealed that higher initial coil resistance correlates strongly with improved thermal localization and efficiency. Coils placed within inner copper layers offered greater thermal retention and structural robustness, while strategic reductions in copper area around the wells enhanced heat focus. These findings guided the development of a final 6-layer modular design capable of achieving the desired decomposition temperature reliably and repeatably. The result is a 4x4 array of compact heating elements, each functioning independently but integrated into a unified architecture scalable to different mission sizes. Additional features, such as edge-mounted diodes and automated data acquisition, support precise control and monitoring during operation. Testing conducted in Earth conditions confirmed the system’s ability to reach decomposition temperatures, with improved efficiency anticipated in the vacuum of space due to reduced convective losses. This design provides a lightweight, manufacturable solution for small satellite missions and a foundation for future gas-based deorbiting technologies

Understanding university-level food recovery programs’ approaches to minimizing food waste while combating food insecurity in the United States

Food is wasted every day at each level of the food system from production to consumption. This surplus has significant negative impacts on the environment after food is sent to the landfill and allowed to rot. However, some surplus food can be repurposed and diverted from the landfill. This study served as an initial investigation to explore multiple food waste diversion programs and analyze their structure, best practices, and methods to divert leftover food. This study specifically aimed to compare and contrast food recovery programs by interviewing participants from three food recovery programs from different university institutions. With the key findings, we made suggestions for improvement upon the University of Arkansas’s food recovery program. The study determined that each program has the primary goal of addressing food insecurity, is dependent on internal university and external community partnerships, and strives for education and awareness about the issues of food insecurity and food waste. Additionally, this study discusses student versus staff-led models, differences in departmental organization, and the varying availability and sources of food. Overall, this study further highlights the significance and impact that food recovery has in combatting food insecurity and food waste

Assessing the Prevalence of Ehrlichia spp. in Ticks Associated with Canids in Arkansas

Canine ehrlichiosis is a common disease seen in dogs. The southeastern United States has been identified as an area of high prevalence, including Arkansas. Changes in climate, household income, and tick population are factors contributing to high prevalence. Canine ehrlichiosis is caused by three Ehrlichia spp., which are E. canis, E. ewingii, and E. chaffeensis. Ticks transmit the pathogen, specifically Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Dermacentor variabilis, and Amblyomma americanum. For this study, the goal was to determine the prevalence of Ehrlichia spp. in Arkansas that causes canine ehrlichiosis. Ticks were collected from host canines and environmental locations. Ticks were identified by sex, species, and stage and tested using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). If positive, Sanger sequencing was used to identify the Ehrlichia spp. carried by the tick. SNAP 4DX data were recorded at two Arkansas veterinary clinics to determine prevalence in dogs. Amongst the collected ticks, five species were found. Only D. variabilis and A. americanum were tested, as they were known Ehrlichia spp. vectors. Only A. americanum ticks were identified as carriers through Sanger sequencing, and, out of the A. americanum population, 1.84% carried E. ewingii, 0.92% carried E. chaffeensis, and 0.92% carried Panola Mountain Ehrlichia. No co-infection or E. canis was found. In the SNAP 4DX testing, the first clinic showed 23.24% of tests were positive in 2023 and 22.12% in 2024, and data collected from the second clinic showed that 22.41% were positive in 2024. This study supports previous studies showing that Arkansas is an area of high prevalence

Reagan, Thatcher, and the Diplomacy of SDI

This article utilizes new sources released through the Margaret Thatcher Foundation and The National Archives of the United Kingdom, which contain an extensive record of correspondence by the prime minister on most international issues. While the sources necessarily approach SDI from a British perspective, they also detail wider European opinion towards Reagan’s initiative. Both Thatcher and other NATO allies shared many of the same questions and concerns regarding SDI. How would SDI impact arms control negotiations with the Soviet Union? Would SDI lead to a decoupling of the United States from Europe? And, most importantly, would the adoption of SDI undercut NATO’s traditional strategy of nuclear deterrence

English King and German Commoner: An Exploration of Sixteenth Century Clothing and Identity

There is perhaps no other external article which is more closely tied to one’s sense of identity than clothing. With a quick glance, one can readily gauge a person by their dress. So too, in the sixteenth century; clothing was used to construct identity, and in some cases to deconstruct it as well. This paper seeks to explore how identity and clothing are in many ways, inseparable. Concepts of religiosity, gender, nationalism, and “the other” were all intimately tied to dress and fashion. During the sixteenth century, perhaps even more strongly than now, clothing could be read like a book in order to divine a person’s social standing, religious affiliation (Catholic/Protestant, Jew, or Muslim), indeed, even the nation, state, or city they were from

Assertions of Monastic Identity and Power in the Cloister and Nave of St. Gall

The Carolingian monastery lived in an unresolved tension between the purity of separation from the world and the benefits to be gained from secular engagement. To confront this dilemma, the parts of the monastery received new layers of symbolic meaning, opening some spaces to lay penetration while shielding others more securely. Here I will examine the monastic cloister and the nave of the abbey church as instances of these two tendencies