Understanding the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families\u27 Reach Across the U.S.

One way the federal government attempts to alleviate child poverty and the associated trauma and expenses is through welfare. Cash assistance helps families make ends meet and maintain stability, reducing poverty and its effects. The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF) is one source of welfare in the United States. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the state in which a child lives matters, as TANF’s reach varies considerably across the U.S. The purpose of this thesis is to understand why some states reach more needy families than other states and to suggest policy recommendations to help TANF’s reach be more consistent across states

Long Term Sequela of Pediatric Bladder Reconstruction

Children with refractory neurogenic bladder (NGB) who have failed maximal medical management are presented with options for bladder reconstruction. It is critical to understand the long-term sequela of bladder augmentation and bladder neck reconstruction to properly counsel families regarding these procedures. Benefits may include preservation of renal function, continence, reduced risk of renal-related mortality, and potential improvements in quality of life (QOL). However, these advantages must be balanced with the risks of bladder calculi, perforation, need for additional surgery, acid/base disturbances, vitamin B12 deficiency, and malignancy. Therefore, careful patient selection and preoperative counseling are paramount for those undergoing bladder reconstruction which includes intestinal bladder augmentation, as these patients require lifelong vigilant follow-up

Sacral Neuromodulation in Children

Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) has emerged as a treatment option for refractory lower urinary tract and bowel dysfunction in children. SNM is typically reserved for a select population of children who have failed an extended period of behavioral modification, biofeedback, and pharmacologic therapy. The surgical techniques for SNM in children are analogous to those in adults and include both one- and two-stage procedures as well as a peripheral nerve evaluation with the InterStim® system (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN). Most studies have observed not only an improvement in symptoms and quality of life in children undergoing SNM for non-neurogenic and neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction but also a much higher reoperative rate than in adults. Further high-quality research is necessary to corroborate the results of earlier studies and to better define the indications for SNM in children

Scallop protein with endogenous high taurine and glycine content prevents high-fat, high-sucrose-induced obesity and improves plasma lipid profile in male C57BL/6J mice

High-protein diets induce alterations in metabolism that may prevent diet-induced obesity. However, little is known as to whether different protein sources consumed at normal levels may affect diet-induced obesity and associated co-morbidities. We fed obesity-prone male C57BL/6J mice high-fat, high-sucrose diets with protein sources of increasing endogenous taurine content, i.e., chicken, cod, crab and scallop, for 6 weeks. The energy intake was lower in crab and scallop-fed mice than in chicken and cod-fed mice, but only scallop-fed mice gained less body and fat mass. Liver mass was reduced in scallop-fed mice, but otherwise no changes in lean body mass were observed between the groups. Feed efficiency and apparent nitrogen digestibility were reduced in scallop-fed mice suggesting alterations in energy utilization and metabolism. Overnight fasted plasma triacylglyceride, non-esterified fatty acids, glycerol and hydroxy-butyrate levels were significantly reduced, indicating reduced lipid mobilization in scallop-fed mice. The plasma HDL-to-total-cholesterol ratio was higher, suggesting increased reverse cholesterol transport or cholesterol clearance in scallop-fed mice in both fasted and non-fasted states. Dietary intake of taurine and glycine correlated negatively with body mass gain and total fat mass, while intake of all other amino acids correlated positively. Furthermore taurine and glycine intake correlated positively with improved plasma lipid profile, i.e., lower levels of plasma lipids and higher HDL-to-total-cholesterol ratio. In conclusion, dietary scallop protein completely prevents high-fat, high-sucrose-induced obesity whilst maintaining lean body mass and improving the plasma lipid profile in male C57BL/6J mice. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00726-014-1715-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Chemical Bioconjugation of Proteins in an Undergraduate Lab: One-Pot Oxidation and Derivatization of the N-Terminus

A laboratory experiment introducing the concept of chemical bioconjugation of proteins to undergraduate students in a therapeutically relevant context was developed. Initially, students installed an aldehyde functionality into a protein via the oxidation of the N-terminal threonine residue of the cholera toxin subunit B (CTB) protein, which was followed by subsequent modification via hydrazone addition under mild conditions with a chromophore bearing a distinct UV–vis-absorption peak. Students determined the yield of the reaction to be ca. 11% by HPLC coupled to UV–vis spectroscopy and developed key skills such as preparation of stock solutions, chemical manipulation of proteins, and analysis via HPLC. The reported experiment can be readily adapted for use with other proteins and may contribute to enhancing constructive alignment in interdisciplinary degree programs at the chemistry–biology interface

Reckoning up: sexual harassment and violence in the neoliberal university

This paper situates sexual harassment and violence in the neoliberal university. Using data from a ‘composite ethnography’ representing twelve years of research, I argue that institutional inaction on these issues reflects how they are ‘reckoned up’ in the context of gender and other structures. The impact of disclosure is projected in market terms: this produces institutional airbrushing which protects both the institution and those (usually privileged men) whose welfare is bound up with its success. Staff and students are differentiated by power/value relations, which interact with gender and intersecting categories. Survivors are often left with few alternatives to speaking out in the ‘outrage economy’ of the corporate media: however, this can support institutional airbrushing and bolster punitive technologies. I propose the method of Grounded Action Inquiry, implemented with attention to Lorde’s work on anger, as a parrhesiastic practice of ‘speaking in’ to the neoliberal institution

Avoidance as a strategy of (not) coping: qualitative interviews with carers of Huntington's Disease patients

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The Grizzly, December 3, 1982

Graterford Prisoners Counseled • Phi Psi Sponsors Santa • Chem Society Rated Outstanding • Renowned Professor Dies • Steinbright Scholarships Offered • News Briefs: Sigma Pi Sigma Inducts New Members; Operation Native Talent; New Evening School Class; Winterfest II Schedules Events; Going for Baroque • Commuters Don\u27t Get No Respect! • Letters to the Editor • Is Tuition Increase Justified? • Recent Thefts and Attacks Prompt Security Questions • Cheating at Ursinus? • A Last Squeeze Before Departing • The Missionary: A Blessing • Roving Reporter: How Do You Feel About the New Security System in the Quad? • Challenge Yourself at Outward Bound • The Perfect Man • UC Faculty Not Burnt Out • Sports Profile: Mullahy and Bazow, Football Captains • Women\u27s Basketball Tops Aggies in Opener: Jankauskas Scoring and Rebounding Was Key • UC Making a Contribution to Olympic Efforthttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1090/thumbnail.jp

Dispensing antibiotics without prescription at the community pharmacies and accredited drug dispensing outlets in Tanzania : a cross-sectional study

This study was part of the larger 3-country Holistic Approach to Unravel Antibacterial Resistance in East Africa (HATUA) project funded by the National Institute for Health Research, Medical Research Council and the Department of Health and Social Care, Award (MR/S004785/1).Worldwide, antimicrobial resistance is increasing rapidly and is highly associated with misuse of antimicrobials. The HATUA study (a broader 3-country study) investigated the antibiotic dispensing practices of pharmaceutical providers to clients, particularly the propensity to dispense without prescription. A cross-sectional study using a ‘mystery client’ method was conducted in 1,148 community pharmacies and accredited drugs dispensing outlets (ADDO) in Mwanza (n = 612), Mbeya (n = 304) and Kilimanjaro (n = 232) in Tanzania. Mystery clients asked directly for amoxicillin, had no prescription to present, did not discuss symptoms unless asked [when asked reported UTI-like symptoms] and attempted to buy a half course. Dispensing of amoxicillin without prescription was common [88.2, 95%CI 86.3%–89.9%], across all three regions. Further-more, a majority of outlets sold a half course of amoxicillin without prescription: Mwanza (98%), Mbeya (99%) and Kilimanjaro (98%). Generally, most providers in all three regions dispensed amoxicillin on demand, without asking the client any questions with [Chi2 = 11.8851 and p-value = 0.003]. In Mbeya and Kilimanjaro, providers in ADDOs were more likely to do this than those in pharmacies but no difference was observed in Mwanza. While the Tanzanian government has laws, regulations and guidelines that prohibit antibiotic dispensing without prescription, our study suggests non-compliance by drug providers. Enforcement, surveillance, and the provision of continuing education on dispensing practices is recommended, particularly for ADDO providers.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe