Barriers to Pregnancy Healthcare as Perceived by Hispanic Women in the Northern Midwest

Background This study explored the barriers to pregnancy health care experienced by Hispanic women. Research has shown that Hispanic patients are less likely to have adequate health insurance coverage compared to the white population in the United States and frequently face communication barriers in health care, as interpretive services are underutilized. These barriers may cause the Hispanic population to delay seeking health care and can lead to poor health outcomes. This is especially a problem in pregnancy health care, where prompt prenatal care is essential in ensuring a healthy pregnancy and positive health outcomes in both mother and baby. Method This was a qualitative study consisting of twelve Hispanic mothers from Illinois and Iowa with children ages eight months to 37 years old. Semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted using questions based off the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). Data was transcribed and coded manually using Microsoft Word and a descriptive coding process. Results Communication barriers emerged as the most significant among participants during pregnancy health care, as the majority utilized family or friend translators or their own understanding of English. Participants referenced not being provided sufficient patient education during health care, leading to inaccurate or inadequate information. Half of the participants mentioned that insurance impacted where they sought pregnancy health care, which occasionally delayed care. Conclusion Only one woman utilized interpretive services, and the others reported that they would have felt more comfortable if they were provided professional translation. The misinformation found in the data could be the result of miscommunication or lack of patient education during health care. Regardless of barriers reported, participants expressed satisfaction with health care

Neural Circuits Controlling Circadian Rhythms

A central question in the circadian biology field is how ~24-hour oscillations of the molecular clock are translated into overt rhythms of behavior and physiology. Drosophila melanogaster is a powerful system that provided the first understanding of how molecular clocks are generated, and now the neural basis of circadian rhythms. In the Drosophila brain, there are about ~150 clock neurons that collectively are responsible for timekeeping. This thesis addresses how time-of-day signals are transmitted from the clock neurons to output circuits that drive overt rhythms. This work used a genetic approach to identify genes and circuits that regulate two output rhythms: peripheral transcriptional rhythms and brain-controlled behavioral rhythms. We showed that a specific group of clock neurons, LNds, and neuropeptide F signaling regulate transcriptional rhythms in a peripheral tissue called the fat body. We also built on previous work to map a multisynaptic circuit that regulates behavioral rest:activity rhythms. The rest:activity circuit extends from the central clock neurons, s-LNvs, through multiple neuropeptidergic output neurons to motor centers. The circadian output circuit we have mapped not only receives circadian (time-of-day) signals but also signals that drive the need to sleep. This thesis provides neural bases for the regulation of circadian rhythms and highlights the different and intersecting circuits that ensure behavior and physiology occur at optimal times of day

Relationships Between Fecal Indicator Bacteria and Environmental Factors at Edgewater Beach

To provide more timely estimates of indicator bacteria concentrations in recreational waters, environmental agencies are using predictive models to supplement conventional bacteria enumeration methods. As a tool to develop predictive models, correlational relationships between variables can be examined, to determine the statistical significance of explanatory variables. Prior research at Lake Erie beaches suggests that environmental conditions such as average wave height, rainfall, turbidity, and water temperature may demonstrate a strong relationship to concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis (enterococci). These relationships were examined at Edgewater Beach in Cleveland, Ohio, using statistical correlation tests on data collected from field measurements and analyses of lake water samples during the 2015 recreational season. E. coli concentrations were determined by analyzing samples prepared using EPA Method 9223B for Colilert-24®/Quanti-tray®. Enterococci concentrations were quantified by analyzing cultures prepared by EPA Method 1600 for membrane filtration of lake water samples. Additionally, ANOVA tests were used to examine the relationship between concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria and wave height. Results of the correlation tests demonstrated that water turbidity had the most significant correlation to E. coli and enterococci concentrations. Results of the ANOVA tests indicated that mean concentrations of bacteria associated with the highest wave heights was significantly greater than mean concentrations at lower wave heights. A weaker correlation was demonstrated in the relationships of bacteria concentrations to water temperature and antecedent rainfall. These results can provide insight on exploring potential variables to use in future regression models for examining indicator bacteria concentrations at Edgewater Beach

A Defining Experience

A recent graduate reflects on her unorthodox yet all-encompasssing Furman education -- and the people who helped make it happen

Construction and evaluation of an objective achievement test on the bookkeeping cycle

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Shaping Inclusive Markets: How Funders and Intermediaries can Help Markets Move toward Greater Economic Inclusion

Positive progress toward worldwide economic inclusion is not only possible, but can also be made more possible. In Shaping Inclusive Markets, we draw lessons from history on how more inclusive markets have been achieved and highlight ways in which funders and intermediaries can strengthen the conditions for change

Columnist - Implementing mediation to solve parental maintenance conflicts

The world has changed. As industrialisation and urbanisation supersede agricultural society and technological innovation is valued more than experience accumulation, and as universal values including freedom, democracy, and human rights flourish, the concept of intergenerational equality has replaced traditional mentality. The function of family has been gradually undermined, rendering the traditional practice of bringing up children to provide against old age obsolete. Hong Kong has recently seen the number of elderly neglect, abandonment, violence and abuse incidents skyrocket. It is pitiful that affection amongst family members has become so fragile, and whether our elderly can live a honourable late life is now a major concern. Many countries and regions have provided incentives in areas including taxation, housing, elderly services and products to encourage children to live with their parents. However, due to the change in family structure, roles and personal values, the discrepancy between the two generations has caused difficulties to co-residence. There are also countries that use legislation to require children to support their parents. Despite the fact that legislation can bring immediate results, traditionally Chinese are both aversive and frightened of lawsuits, with an old saying of Never enter the court alive nor the hell dead . Never leaks any home scandals is another, with many parents thinking that to go to court to claim maintenance from their children is shameful - which is why if we were to use the high pressure means of legislation to achieve the goal of requesting able children to support their needy parents, it is possible that the relationship gap between family members may widen. By introducing mediation as a solution to parental maintenance conflicts, we can prevent the damage to family relationship brought by antagonistic lawsuits as well as alleviate the tension of co-residence