Looking for alternatives risk, reflexivity and complementary Therapies

This thesis explores individuals' motivations for using complementary and alternative medicines (CAM). More specifically, the thesis explores the relationship between the use of CAM and wider social and cultural changes which have altered individuals’ expectations about their health and their understanding of risk and embodiment. The thesis draws on data from 24 in-depth interviews with individuals using a range of complementary and alternative health practices. Building on previous literature in this field this thesis not only explores individuals' initial motivations for using CAM, but also the reasons why they remain engaged with such practices and how their motives change over the course of time. I argue that the use of complementary and alternative medicines should be understood in terms of a career. As individuals progress along the CAM career trajectory their motives for using any given therapy not only change, but they also acquire further justifications and rationalizations for using CAM. One of the main motivations for using complementary therapies, amongst the participants of this study, was because of concerns over the safety of Western medicines, which were associated with potential risks to the health of the body. In contrast, so-called 'natural' remedies or other types of complementary therapies were seen to represent a relatively 'risk-free’ alternative. In this sense I argue that complementary therapies are adopted as part of a strategy of risk avoidance and as a means of coping with the anxieties associated with caring for health and body within late modem society. The thesis also explores individuals' use of complementary and alternative medicines for self-care purposes. I argue that such practices should be viewed as a form of resistance to medical control and an attempt to regain control over the self. The thesis not only adds to our current understanding of complementary therapies within contemporary society, but also makes a significant contribution to key sociological debates

A Profile of Rural Southern Appalachian HIV Patients: VAMC versus COM.

Although the AIDS epidemic in America began approximately three decades ago, much remains to be learned about the epidemiology of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections in rural America. This study compared profiles of HIV patients at the James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Mountain Home, TN to those seen at a university-based community HIV care clinic (COM) in Johnson City, TN

A retrospective analysis to identify characteristics associated with bone fractures observed in patients who undergo the Foker process

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston UniversityIntroduction: Esophageal atresia (EA), a rare anomaly characterized by a gap within the esophageal tract, causes serious complications in newborn infants. Surgery is the only treatment available to cure EA. This study focuses on Long Gap Esophageal Atresia (LGEA) reconstructive surgery using the Foker process for in vivo growth induction of the esophagus. This process incorporates multiple surgeries that take place over a period of weeks to months. Patients undergoing LGEA surgery may be at greater risk for bone fracture, due to poor nutritional status, administration of certain medications and prolonged periods of immobility. Other risk factors contributing to bone fragility include low birth weight and other congenital anomalies. This study uses a retrospective analysis to determine which variables may contribute to fractures in patients who have undergone the Foker procedure. Objectives: Clinical characteristics (age, gestational age, associated congenital anomalies, total Foker surgical procedures, Foker process duration and total days of administered paralytics) associated with fractures in patients who underwent the Foker procedure were determined. [TRUNCATED

Core Assessment: general education and faculty engagement

Poster presented at the Assessment for Curricular Improvement Poster Exhibit 2023.Our institution is developing processes to assess our general core education. After redeveloping our seven learning objectives, direct faculty engagement was sought for the design and implementation of assessment rubrics. During the initial assessment cycle, faculty voiced challenges in implementation. This poster will frame these challenges and provide our response to overcome them

Augustana College Campus Kitchen: Food Friends

Faculty, staff and students are highly encouraged to attend this session. During our time we will explore what food insecurity is, what it looks like on campus and how faculty and staff can be resources to students. Faculty and staff who attend will receive a sticker to put outside their office, demonstrating they have participated in the discussion to combat food insecurity on campus

Cities, The Sharing Economy and What's Next

This report seeks to provide an analysis of what is currently happening in American cities so that city leaders may better understand, encourage and regulate the growing sharing economy. Interviews were conducted with city officials on the impact of the sharing economy and related topics, and the report centers around five key themes: innovation, economic development, equity, safety and implementation.The sharing economy is also commonly referred to as collaborative consumption, the collaborative economy, or the peer-to-peer economy. This term refers to business models that enable providers and consumers to share resources and services, from housing to vehicles and more. These business models typically take the form of an online and/or application-based platform for business transactions

Physical Activity Policy for Older Adults in the Northwest Territories, Canada: Gaps and Opportunities for Gains

In the Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada, the population of older adults is increasing, and this population reports much poorer health than other age cohorts. Given the number of benefits that physical activity (PA) can have for older adults, we analyzed policies concerning older adults and PA of both the NWT government and non-governmental organizations in the health, recreation, and sports sectors. Our findings indicate that although the majority of the organizations had no PA policies specific to older adults or Aboriginal older adults, some organizations completed all five stages of the policy cycle (agenda setting, policy formulation, decision making, implementation, and evaluation). Our analysis suggests that PA for older adults is not on the agenda for many organizations in the NWT and that often the policy process does not continue past the decision-making stage. To address the need for connections between all stages of the policy cycle, we suggest that organizations collaborate across multiple sectors and with older adults to develop a territory-wide, age-friendly rural and remote community strategy that is applicable to the NWT. Prioritizing age-friendly communities would, in turn, facilitate appropriate PA opportunities for older adults in the NWT and thus contribute to a healthier aging population.Dans les Territoires du Nord-Ouest (T.N.-O.), au Canada, la population de personnes âgées augmente, et la santé de ce segment de population est bien inférieure à celle des autres segments. Étant donné les bienfaits que peut comporter l’activité physique (AP) chez les personnes âgées, nous avons analysé les politiques concernant les personnes âgées et l’AP au sein des organismes gouvernementaux et non gouvernementaux des Territoires du Nord-Ouest en matière de santé, de loisirs et de sports. Nos constatations indiquent que même si la majorité des organismes n’étaient pas dotés de politiques d’AP visant particulièrement les personnes âgées ou les Autochtones âgés, certains organismes avaient déjà fait les cinq étapes du cycle stratégique (détermination de l’ordre du jour, formulation de politiques, prise de décisions, mise en oeuvre et évaluation). Notre analyse suggère que pour bien des organismes des T.N.-O., l’AP chez les personnes âgées ne figure pas au programme et que souvent, le processus d’élaboration de politiques ne se poursuit pas après l’étape de la prise de décisions. Afin de relier toutes les étapes du cycle, nous suggérons que les organismes des divers secteurs collaborent entre eux ainsi qu’avec les personnes âgées afin de parvenir à une stratégie qui correspond bien aux gens plus âgés des localités rurales et éloignées, à l’échelle des T.N.-O. En accordant une priorité à la création de collectivités qui tiennent compte des personnes âgées, on pourrait aboutir à des activités physiques convenant aux personnes âgées des T.N.-O., ce qui contribuerait à une population vieillissante en meilleure santé

Novel Experimental Designs and Mathematical Models to Study Fecal Indicator Bacteria Persistence in Surface Water

High counts of fecal indicators, used to signal the potential presence of pathogens associated with untreated waste, result in the classification of water bodies throughout the United States as impaired. Nonpoint sources of unknown origin that contribute to fecal contamination make management of impaired waters challenging, as they are difficult to distinguish, and it is thus problematic to correctly target mitigation efforts. Genetic markers used for microbial source tracking provide valuable information by identifying hosts that contribute to fecal loading, but do not provide a method to detect specific sources that contribute to impairment of water bodies. Spatial modelling efforts have been proposed for use in conjunction with fecal indicators and host-specific markers, but have been limited by a lack of adequate modeling for the complex processes that cause indicator decay. We conducted a quantitative meta-analysis of published decay rate estimates for several common indicators using Bayesian hierarchical linear modeling. The meta-analysis revealed a large amount of variability across studies, including in findings of significance for environmental parameters that impact persistence. Additionally, the meta-analysis revealed gaps in the data for genetic markers, while sufficient data was available for the traditional, culture-based indicators. We determined that temperature was consistently a significant predictor of decay rate estimates for all indicators, but light was only significant for culture-based indicators. We provided synthesized estimates for the selected indicators, but recommend caution in their application for source tracking or quantitative risk assessment due to high variability in parameter estimates and uncertainty in their extension beyond artificial settings. We compared the decay profiles for general fecal indicators and markers associated with ruminants and cattle. We determined best fitting non-linear models based on information theory and used global model fitting to test for differences in curves for each combination of indicators. Additionally, we investigated the potential of the selected ruminant markers for use in source allocation using the ratio method, based on difference in the observed decay profiles. We found statistical differences between the decay curves of E. coli and all but one genetic marker. The differences across decay profiles suggest caution is necessary when interpreting microbial source tracking results using these markers, as differential decay may result in different findings depending on the marker selected. We assessed the possibility of studying fecal indicator persistence in a truly open system using simulations. Using the concept of a Continuous-flow Stirred Tank Reactor, we developed an adjustment that can be applied to observed fecal indicator concentrations from an open system so that only loss due to decay is considered. The simulations showed that this adjustment is an effective way to account for loss for this system. However, implementation of this system has limitations, as the removal of indicators through flow contributes to a decreased period of observations before a given indicator drops below the limits of detection. We used the results from the simulations to design and implement an open system for decay studies. We compared decay profiles generated for several indicators from two open systems with different flow rates to those of closed and partially closed systems that have been previously used in decay studies. We used the results of these comparisons to investigate the effects of artificial settings used to study decay for fecal indicators. We found that the systems used in decay studies significantly influence the results for all indicators used

Pre-service and In-services Teachers Perspectives on Academic Success: More than Just A Grade

Students are constantly bombarded with messages about academic success and the importance of getting good grades. However, definitions of academic success are more complex than a letter grade. Many indicators to define academic success extend primarily from students’ perspectives and ignore how teachers’ definitions of success. This is an oversight as teachers’ perspectives on academic success shape their students’ perspectives on academic success for years to come, and thus represent an important voice to be included in the messaging around academic success. Thus, in this study we were interested in pre-service and in-service teachers’ definitions of academic success, and how they converge or diverge with indicators outlined in current research. We found that teachers have multiple perspectives on academic success, highlighting the complexity of this construct. Moreover, many of their definitions converged with researchers; however, teachers’ definitions were more varied and diverse. Our findings highlight the multidimensional nature of academic success. In closing, we identify various implications for schools and provide suggestions for future research and practice