The Effects of Barriers, Acculturation, and Academic Goals on Latina/o Students’ Academic Performance

The current study explored 112 Latina/o college students’ perceptions of barriers, acculturation, academic goals, and academic performance. Acculturation to the Anglo culture and academic goals were positively related to college performance. Perceptions of career barriers also had a positive relationship with college performance. A discussion regarding the importance of these findings is provided and implications for counselors are offered

Exploring reasons for MD-PhD trainees\u27 experiences of impostor phenomenon

BACKGROUND: Acceptance into U.S. MD-PhD dual-degree programs is highly competitive, and the lengthy training program requires transitioning between multiple phases (pre-clinical-, PhD-research-, and clinical-training phases), which can be stressful. Challenges faced during MD-PhD training could exacerbate self-doubt and anxiety. Impostor phenomenon is the experience of feeling like a fraud, with some high-achieving, competent individuals attributing their successes to luck or other factors rather than their own ability and hard work. To our knowledge, impostor phenomenon among MD-PhD trainees has not been described. This study examined impostor phenomenon experiences during MD-PhD training and reasons trainees attributed to these feelings. METHODS: Individuals in science and medicine fields participated in an online survey that included the 20-item Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS); higher scores (range 20-100) indicate more frequent impostor phenomenon. Some respondents who reported experiencing impostor phenomenon also voluntarily completed a semi-structured interview, sharing experiences during training that contributed to feelings of impostor phenomenon. Interview transcripts were coded and analysed using the constant comparative method and analytic induction to identify themes. RESULTS: Of 959 survey respondents (students and professionals in science and medicine), 13 MD-PhD students and residents completed the survey, nine of whom (five male, four female; four white, five other race-ethnicity) also completed an interview. These participants experienced moderate-to-intense scores on the CIPS (range: 46-96). Four themes emerged from the interview narratives that described participants\u27 experiences of IP: professional identity formation, fear of evaluation, minority status, and, program-transition experiences. All reported struggling to develop a physician-scientist identity and lacking a sense of belonging in medicine or research. CONCLUSIONS: Impostor experiences that MD-PhD participants attributed to bias and micro-aggressions in social interactions with peers, faculty, and patients challenged their professional identity formation as physician-scientists. It is important to further examine how MD-PhD-program structures, cultures, and social interactions can lead to feelings of alienation and experiences of impostor phenomenon, particularly for students from diverse and underrepresented populations in medicine

Understanding Perceived Differences Between Successful and Struggling First-Year Mexican American College Students: An Exploratory Study

In this exploratory study, we conducted in-depth interviews with university seminar instructors to discover perceived differences between successful and struggling first-year Latina/o college students. Several factors emerged from interviews to differentiate successful and struggling Latina/o college students. These factors include assimilation, motivation to pursue goals, family knowledge and resources, family social class, different preparation for postsecondary education, and different levels of support and encouragement in high school. We provide recommendations for high school counselors and researchers

The Effect of Mobility and Strength Training on Firefighter Cadet Functional Mobility

Strength and Conditioning programs have positive effects on athletic performance (Hedrick, 2002). Similarly, firefighters have to be adequately fit to perform their job duties which require muscular strength and endurance, and aerobic fitness (Smith, 2011). Thus, firefighter’s health and fitness, including mobility, is crucial in their job performance. PURPOSE: We examined the effects of a strength, conditioning, and mobility program on functional mobility in firefighter cadets. METHODS: 43 firefighter cadets who were enrolled in a 12-week basic firefighter academy course participated. Cadets were separated into one of three cohorts; 1) No program; 2) Unmonitored Program; and 3) Indirectly Monitored Program. Participants either completed daily physical fitness training tasks on their own or set by fire instructors. A certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) set up the physical fitness training modes for cohorts 2 and 3; however, the CSCS did not monitor training directly. Mobility was assessed by ROM exercises using DARI Motion Capture® (DARI Motion, Kansas City, Missouri). Motions included bodyweight bilateral squat, unilateral squat right and left, forward lunge right and left, and lateral lunge right and left. Post testing was completed 12-weeks after initial assessments. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS. RESULTS: Overall Cohort 3, Indirectly Monitored Program, had the greatest positive mobility changes when comparing pre post testing. There were significant increases in bodyweight squat left knee flexion in cohort three (115.58±16.0 to 124.56±16.42, p=0.02). Bodyweight squat left ankle flexion also significantly increased (24.20±11.78 to 34.98±12.03, p=0.005). Significant increases in bodyweight squat percentage of lower body height in cohort three were also positive (47.3±10.7% to 52.7±10.0%, p=0.037), indicating that greater squat depth was achieved after the indirectly monitored program. However, negative effects on the bodyweight squat includes left and right knee valgus both increasing showing a lack of stability in dynamic knee control while squatting (left: 4.65±1.33to 5.02±0.66, p=0.039; right: 3.97±2.06 to 4.87±1.33, p=0.005). Unilateral squat depth percentage of lower body showed significant changes in Cohort 3 (26.9±8.3% to 32.0±13.6%, p=0.032). Unilateral squat knee and ankle flexion both showed positive significant differences (knee: 83.70±18.05 to 94.62±23.49, p=0.02; ankle: 24.34±9.38 to 34.57±12.25, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of the current study suggest that even indirect monitoring of tactical strength and conditioning programming can have a positive effect on firefighter cadet’s functional mobility. In the future, programming should be more direct including the installation of tactical personnel to aid and facilitate training programs with proper supervision

Congenital fiber-type disproportion myopathy: a case study

Congenital fiber-type disproportion myopathy causes impaired muscle maturation or development. It is characterized by moderate to severe hypotonia and generalized muscle weakness at birth or during the first year of life, especially in the lower extremities. It is inherited as an autosomal recessive, dominant and X-linked. It is diagnosed by clinical data confirmation, generalized hypotonia and a muscle biopsy in which muscle fibers type I are smaller in caliber, 12% smaller than those of type II and type I fibers are more common than type II. Treatment is multidisciplinary. The following describes the case of a patient who was born in the ‘‘Dr. José Eleuterio González’’ University Hospital in Monterrey, N.L, who presented clinical and muscle biopsy compatible with this myopathy

Pretenuring for Java

Pretenuring is a technique for reducing copying costs in garbage collectors. When pretenuring, the allocator places long-lived objects into regions that the garbage collector will rarely, if ever, collect. We extend previous work on profiling-driven pretenuring as follows. (1) We develop a collector-neutral approach to obtaining object lifetime profile information. We show that our collection of Java programs exhibits a very high degree of homogeneity of object lifetimes at each allocation site. This result is robust with respect to different inputs, and is similar to previous work on ML, but is in contrast to C programs, which require dynamic call chain context information to extract homogeneous lifetimes. Call-site homogeneity considerably simplifies the implementation of pretenuring and makes it more efficient. (2) Our pretenuring advice is neutral with respect to the collector algorithm, and we use it to improve two quite different garbage collectors: a traditional generational collector and an older-first collector. The system is also novel because it classifies and allocates objects into 3 categories: we allocate immortal objects into a permanent region that the collector will never consider, long-lived objects into a region in which the collector placed survivors of the most recent collection, and shortlived objects into the nursery, i.e., the default region. (3) We evaluate pretenuring on Java programs. Our simulation results show that pretenuring significantly reduces collector copying for generational and older-first collectors. 1

Beekeeping in Jalisco, México

The purpose of this study was to analyze the socioeconomic factors that influence the beekeeping process and describe the current situation in beekeeping technology development in the south and southeast regions of Jalisco. The study was conducted by reviewing secondary sources of documentary information and the primary information was obtained by means of a survey, analyzing demographic, social, technological, and economic variables. From January to April 2011, a stratified sampling was conducted of six strata of beekeepers, with a final sampling of 183 beekeepers. We applied a frequency analysis, ANOVA (Waller-Duncan), and contingency tables (χ2). The average age observed for the beekeepers was 47 years, with fewer women participating in the activity, and an above national average level of education. The majority keep their apiaries in rented premises, a high percentage outside the municipality where they live. The honey obtained is multiflora and the main harvest is in the autumn, with a honey yield per hive below the national average. A number of problems affect the production sector including environmental factors, production costs, and varroa. We observed little diversification; in addition to honey only beeswax is recovered, and only a minority keep a record of production costs. There is wide participation in beekeeping associations and in training provided by different public and private bodies. There is a willingness to adopt new technologies and equipment for honey production with good practice standards

The utility of Google Trends data to examine interest in cancer screening

OBJECTIVES: We examined the utility of January 2004 to April 2014 Google Trends data from information searches for cancer screenings and preparations as a complement to population screening data, which are traditionally estimated through costly population-level surveys. SETTING: State-level data across the USA. PARTICIPANTS: Persons who searched for terms related to cancer screening using Google, and persons who participated in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: (1) State-level Google Trends data, providing relative search volume (RSV) data scaled to the highest search proportion per week (RSV100) for search terms over time since 2004 and across different geographical locations. (2) RSV of new screening tests, free/low-cost screening for breast and colorectal cancer, and new preparations for colonoscopy (Prepopik). (3) State-level breast, cervical, colorectal and prostate cancer screening rates. RESULTS: Correlations between Google Trends and BRFSS data ranged from 0.55 for ever having had a colonoscopy to 0.14 for having a Pap smear within the past 3 years. Free/low-cost mammography and colonoscopy showed higher RSV during their respective cancer awareness months. RSV for Miralax remained stable, while interest in Prepopik increased over time. RSV for lung cancer screening, virtual colonoscopy and three-dimensional mammography was low. CONCLUSIONS: Google Trends data provides enormous scientific possibilities, but are not a suitable substitute for, but may complement, traditional data collection and analysis about cancer screening and related interests

Risky sexual behaviors and sexually transmitted diseases: a comparison study of cocaine-dependent individuals in treatment versus a community-matched sample

Cocaine users routinely engage in high-risk sexual behaviors that place them at an elevated risk of contracting HIV and other blood-borne infections. The purpose of the present study was to compare trading sex for drugs and/or money, having 10 or more sexual partners in 1 year, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) of cocaine-dependent individuals in treatment for their dependence across race and gender and against participants who live in their community. Cocaine-dependent individuals (n = 459) were identified through nine publicly and privately funded inpatient and outpatient chemical dependency treatment centers in the St. Louis area during 2001–2006. Community-based participants (n = 459) were matched to cocaine-dependent participants on age, ethnicity, gender, and zip code of residence. Mean age of the sample was 36 years old, 50% were Caucasians, 50% were African American, and 47% were male. Nearly half of cocaine-dependent participants in treatment had traded sex for drugs and/or money and over one-third had more than 10 sexual partners in 1 year with a risk concentrated among African Americans even after controlling for income and educational attainment. Participants recruited from the community with some exposure to cocaine reported similar rates of high risk sexual behaviors as the cocaine dependent subjects from treatment settings. It is important for clinicians to recognize that once released from treatment, cocaine-dependent individuals may be returning to high-risk environments where sexual risk behaviors are occurring in the context of cocaine use

Effects of a combination economic empowerment and family strengthening intervention on psychosocial well-being among Ugandan adolescent girls and young women: Analysis of a cluster randomized controlled trial (Suubi4Her)

PURPOSE: Economic empowerment and family strengthening interventions have shown promise for improving psychosocial well-being in a range of populations. This study investigates the effect of a combination economic and family strengthening intervention on psychosocial well-being among Ugandan adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). METHODS: We harnessed data from a three-arm cluster randomized controlled trial among AGYW aged 14-17 years in 47 Ugandan secondary schools. Schools were randomized to either a youth development account intervention (YDA) [N = 16 schools], YDA plus a multiple family group intervention (YDA + MFG) [N = 15 schools], or bolstered standard of care (BSOC) [N = 16 schools]. We estimated the effect of each intervention (BSOC = referent) on three measures of psychosocial well-being: hopelessness (Beck\u27s Hopelessness Scale), self-concept (Tennessee Self-Concept Scale), and self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale) at 12 months following enrollment using multi-level linear mixed models for each outcome. RESULTS: A total of 1,260 AGYW (mean age, 15.4) were enrolled-471 assigned to YDA (37%), 381 to YDA + MFG (30%), and 408 to usual care (32%). Over the 12-month follow-up, participants assigned to the YDA + MFG group had significantly greater reductions in hopelessness and improvements in self-esteem outcomes compared to BSOC participants. Those enrolled in the YDA arm alone also had significantly greater reductions in hopelessness compared to BSOC participants. DISCUSSION: Combination interventions, combining economic empowerment (represented here by YDA), and family-strengthening (represented by MFG) can improve the psychosocial well-being of AGYW. The long-term effects of these interventions should be further tested for potential scale-up in an effort to address the persistent mental health treatment gap in resource-constrained settings