Justice for the Orphan: the Ethics of Embryo Adoption

Bio-ethical dilemmas of all sorts have been discussed throughout human history, but modern technological advancements in both fertility treatments and contraception have incited debate about beginning-of-life issues like never before. The Catholic Church has addressed a number of these issues and their ramifications for Catholic Christians in formal written teaching, including Humanae Vitae, Donum Vitae, and Dignitas Personae. These documents and other ecclesial pronouncements have led to lively and complex arguments among bio-ethicists and moral theologians of a number of different creeds (though this paper focuses on the debate among Roman Catholic theologians). One unresolved discussion surrounds the status and fate of cryopreserved embryos created during in vitro fertilization procedures. If Catholic Christians hold that humans have an intrinsic right to life from the moment of conception, from the moment the embryo is an embryo, what ought to be done about these thousands of embryos? One answer is embryo adoption, in which a woman or couple has one (or more) such embryos implanted with the hope of eventually giving birth. In this paper, I will outline key points of the ecclesial documents above and the scholarly discussion surrounding this conundrum. I also present a rationale for embryo adoption as not only a moral practice for Christians but can even a praiseworthy one (in certain circumstances.) Key to this discussion is a reflection on the core importance of adoption, both in Scripture and in the lived witness of Christians throughout history: examining the status of cryopreserved embryos in the context of adoption deepens and clarifies the conversation surrounding it

Aggressive Humor as a Negative Relational Maintenance Behavior during Times of Conflict

This study explores how aggressive humor is used as a negative relational maintenance behavior during conflicts in romantic relationships. Negative relational maintenance behaviors are questionable interpersonal behaviors romantic partners use to relieve personal tensions about the state of the relationship while still keeping the relationship in existence. Twenty-six participants in committed romantic relationships participated in seven semi-structured group interviews, and transcripts from these group interviews were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. This analysis revealed participants were motivated to use aggressive humor in conflict situations to cover up topics of discussion, elicit a response from their partners, and ease tension. Aggressive humor was enacted through sarcasm, repetition, and mimicking. These findings extend existing research on negative relational maintenance behaviors and provide insight to the “dark side” of maintaining romantic relationships

Wild Collection and Cultivation of Native Species in Iceland

Based on an MSc thesis submitted to the joint Master program between University of Kassel and University of Goettingen and later published: WHITNEY C.W., GEBAUER J. & ANDERSON M. 2012. A Survey of Wild Collection and Cultivation of Indigenous Species in Iceland. Human Ecology. This paper outlines a survey of Icelanders who use local plants. Some of the species (e.g. Angelica spp. and Betula spp.) were very important. However, great potential exists for a more diverse harvest and for sustainable management (e.g. Organic certification). There is also potential for the spreading native plant use knowledge and the inherent associated conservation culture. The data also suggests that cultural conservation should focus on food, which appears to be paramount in increasing the cultural importance of a plant

An investigation of the associations between stigma, self-compassion, and pain outcomes during treatment based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for chronic pain

Introduction: Stigma adversely affects people with chronic pain. The qualities within self-compassion may be particularly useful for buffering the impact of stigma on people with pain. In the context of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-based (ACT) treatment for chronic pain, this study investigated the association between changes in stigma and self-compassion and pain outcomes, and the potential moderating role of self-compassion on the association between stigma and pain outcomes. Materials and methods: Five-hundred and nineteen patients completed standardized self-report questionnaires of stigma, self-compassion, psychological flexibility, pain intensity and interference, work and social adjustment, and depression symptoms at the start of an interdisciplinary ACT-based treatment for chronic pain. The same measures were completed at post-treatment (n = 431). Results: The results indicated that key pain outcomes and self-compassion significantly improved during treatment, but stigma did not. Changes in stigma and self-compassion were significantly negatively correlated and changes in these variables were associated with improvements in treatment outcomes. There were significant main effects of stigma and self-compassion for many of the pre- and post-treatment regression models when psychological flexibility was not controlled for, but self-compassion did not moderate the association between stigma and pain outcomes. Stigma remained significant when psychological flexibility variables were controlled for, while self-compassion did not. Discussion: The findings add to our conceptual understanding of the inter-relationships between stigma, self-compassion, and psychological flexibility and can contribute to treatment advancements to optimally target these variables

Getting What They Want: Aligning Student Expectations of Advising with Perceived Advisor Behaviors

Maintaining effective undergraduate academic advising programs that meet the needs of students is an ongoing challenge for universities across the country. Using expectancy violations theory as a lens, this study argues that student satisfaction with advising is linked to alignment between student expectations of the advising process and perceived advisor behaviors. Advising approaches are classified as either prescriptive, in which the advisor assists students with course selection and other logistical details, or developmental, where the advisor takes a holistic approach in providing advice related to academic, career, and personal goals. Results indicate student satisfaction with advising increased when perceived advisor behaviors aligned with students’ prescriptive or developmental expectations. Developmental advising, while favored in previous research, may not be appropriate for all students; instead, advisors should strive to meet students’ expectations, whether prescriptive or developmental. Further, results suggest student expectations of advising are not being met at the university under study. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed

Open Access: A Model for Sharing Published Conservation Research

This article has been reprinted with the permission of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works, 1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 320, Washington, DC 20005, from the May 2014 edition (Vol. 39, No. 3) of AIC News. [email protected] • www.conservation-us.or

Term Harvesting & Generation Guide

The "Term Harvesting & Generation Guide" outlines term harvesting strategies to help build the list of search terms for advanced literature reviews, such as systematic reviews. The Guide was developed by a team of Taubman Health Sciences Library Informationists as an instructional tool for the Systematic Reviews: Opportunities for Librarians Workshop and Advanced Literature Searching in the Health Sciences Massive Open Online Course.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153785/4/Term_Harvesting_and_Generation_Guide.pd

Impact of education and training on type of care provided by community-based breastfeeding counselors: a cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Studies using community-based breastfeeding counselors (CBBCs) have repeatedly shown positive impact on breastfeeding initiation, exclusivity and duration, particularly among low-income mothers. To date, there has not been a comprehensive study to determine the impact of CBBC attributes such as educational background and training, on the type of care that CBBCs provide.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This was a cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of CBBCs to ascertain the influence of counselor education and type of training on type of support and proficiency of CBBCs in communities across the United States. Invitations to participate in this online survey of CBBCs were e-mailed to program coordinators of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), La Leche League, and other community-based health organizations, who in turn invited and encouraged their CBBCs to participate. Descriptive analysis was used to describe participants (N = 847), while bivariate analysis using χ²test was used to examine the differences between CBBC education, training received and breastfeeding support skills used. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the independent determinants of specific breastfeeding support skills.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The major findings from the research indicate that overall, educational attainment of CBBCs is not a significant predictor for the curriculum used in their training and type of support skills used during counseling sessions, but initial training duration was positively associated with the use of many breastfeeding support skills. Another major influence of counselor support to clients is the type of continuing education they receive after their initial training, with higher likelihood of use of desirable support skills associated with counselors continuing their breastfeeding education at conferences or trainings away from their job sites.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results show that different programs use different training curricula to train their CBBCs varying in duration and content. Counselor education is not a significant predictor of the type of training they receive. Continuing breastfeeding education is a significant determinant of type of counseling techniques used with clients. Further research is therefore needed to critically examine the content of the various training curricula of CBBC programs. This may show a need for a standardized training curriculum for all CBBC programs worldwide to make CBBCs more proficient and efficient, ensuring successful and optimum breastfeeding experiences for mothers and their newborns.</p

Risk factors for malnutrition among children 5-years and younger in the Akuapim-North District in the eastern region of Ghana

Malnutrition remains a significant public health problem in developing countries. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for malnutrition among preschool children in the Akwapim-North District in the Eastern Region of Ghana. This was a cross-sectional study. Mothers who brought their children to the ＂Well Baby Check-up＂ clinics were invited to participate. Anthropometric measurements (weight and height/length) and blood hemoglobin were measured. Mothers also completed a questionnaire consisting of closed and open-ended questions. A total of 305 pre-school-age children were included in this study. Of this sample, 43.3% were males, and 56.7% were females. The prevalence of wasting, stunting, and underweight was 6.2, 11.4 and 7.3%, respectively. The majority of the children (80.7%) were anemic. Children who were exclusively breastfed for 6 months showed slightly lower prevalence of both anemia (75.5% vs. 89.0%) and stunting (8% vs. 13%) but not wasting (8.3% vs. 4.3% ) or underweight (8.3% vs. 5.2%) compared to their mixed feeding counterparts. Children under 12 months of age showed a higher prevalence of wasting (9.4%) compared to other age groups. Children from homes with electricity showed lower prevalence of stunting (9.7% vs. 17.6%, p = 0.050), and children from households with a radio showed lower prevalence of wasting (5.3% vs. 19.0%, p = 0.033). Nutrition education encouraging exclusive breastfeeding and adequate provision of animal protein to preschool children is important in semi-rural and farming communities in developing countries such as Ghana in order to combat the prevalence of childhood malnutrition (stunting, wasting, underweight and anemia)

Micro-optics technology and sensor systems applications

The current generation of electro-optical sensors utilizing refractive and reflective optical elements require sophisticated, complex, and expensive designs. Advanced-technology-based electro-optical sensors of minimum size and weight require miniaturization of optical, electrical, and mechanical devices with an increasing trend toward integration of various components. Micro-optics technology has the potential in a number of areas to simplify optical design with improved performance. This includes internally cooled apertures, hybrid optical design, microlenses, dispersive multicolor microlenses, active dither, electronically controlled optical beam steer, and microscopic integration of micro-optics, detectors, and signal processing layers. This paper describes our approach to the development of micro-optics technology with our main emphasis for sensors applications