Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) compared to elective repeat cesarean delivery (ERCD) in maternal hemorrhage prevention

The intricacy of childbirth is something that is both beautiful, yet potentially devastating if not approached appropriately for each individual mother and fetus. Maternal hemorrhaging is one, of the many, adverse outcomes that can present with childbirth. The potential risks of childbirth have led to various techniques and modes of delivery to reduce the possible detriments, posing debates over which is the “right” protocol. Due to the variability in research findings regarding postpartum hemorrhaging (PPH) and maternal and fetal safety, this research poses the question of: in multiparous women who have previously delivered via cesarean section [P], does vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) [I] reduce the need for maternal transfusion due to blood loss [O] when compared to elective repeat cesarean delivery (ERCD) [C]

Temperament and Aggression: Examining the Link Between a Shy and Inhibited Temperament and Reactive and Proactive Aggression

Temperament dimensions of shyness and inhibitory control relate to how a child presents themselves socially in uncertain situations. Although prior research has found evidence linking temperament and aggression, little attention has been given to temperament dimensions of shyness and inhibitory control and the subtypes of aggressive behaviors. This distinction could be crucial as some children may be more likely to use aggression to interact with others due to their shy nature or may act react aggressively in situations that are unfamiliar. The goal of this study was to understand how the temperament dimensions of shyness and inhibitory control and gender are associated with reactive and proactive aggression among 4-year-old children using parent-report measures. 124 parents of 4-year-old children (M=4.4 years, SD = 3.22 months; 53% female; 79.03% White) reported their child’s temperament using the Short Version of the Children’s Behavior Questionnaire Shyness and Inhibitory Control subscales (Rothbart, Ahadi, Hershey, & Fisher, 2001). Additionally, parents completed the Proactive Reactive Aggression Questionnaire (Dodge & Coie, 1987). Participants were recruited from area preschools and organizations serving children and families. Multiple ordinary least squares regression analyses were used for hypothesis testing. Model A tested whether inhibitory control, shyness, gender, and the interactions between gender and shyness and between gender and inhibitory control predicted reactive aggression. Specifically, it was hypothesized that low inhibitory control, high shyness, and gender (boys) would demonstrate an increase in reactive aggression with the interactions between gender and shyness and gender and inhibitory control being exploratory with no formal predictions. Model B tested whether inhibitory control, shyness, gender, and the interactions between gender and shyness and between gender and inhibitory control predicted proactive aggression. No significant effects were expected for any of the variables or interactions in Model B. As predicted, results indicated that low inhibitory control significantly predicted an increase in reactive aggression, β = -2.249, t(122) = -5.567, p \u3c .001, yet shyness did not significantly predict an increase in reactive aggression, β = .353, t (122) = .119, p = .315, while the overall model explained a significant amount of variance, R2 = .229, p \u3c .001. The multiple regression model for reactive aggression explained a significant amount of variance, R2 = .310, p \u3c .001. Furthermore, low inhibitory control significantly predicted an increase in proactive aggression, β = -.949, t(122) = -4.087, p \u3c .001, whereas shyness did not significantly predict an increase in reactive aggression, β = -.018, t (122) = -.011, p = .950,. These findings provide important details about links between a child’s temperament and their displays of aggression

Renormalisation group flows connecting a 4−ϵ4-\epsilon dimensional Hermitian field theory to a PT\mathcal{PT}-symmetric theory for a fermion coupled to an axion

The renormalisation group flow of a Hermitian field theory is shown to have trajectories which lead to a non-Hermitian Parity-Time ($\mathcal{PT}$) symmetric field theory for an axion coupled to a fermion in spacetime dimensions $D=4-\epsilon$, where $\epsilon >0$. In this renormalisable field theory, the Dirac fermion field has a Yukawa coupling $g$ to a pseudoscalar (axion) field and there is quartic pseudoscalar self-coupling $u$. The robustness of this finding is established by considering flows between $\epsilon$ dpependent Wilson-Fisher fixed points and also by working to \emph{three loops} in the Yukawa coupling and to \emph{two loops} in the quartic scalar coupling. The flows in the neighbourhood of the non-trivial fixed points are calculated using perturbative analysis, together with the $\epsilon$ expansion. The global flow pattern indicates flows from positive $u$ to negative $u$; there are no flows between real and imaginary $g$. Using summation techniques we demonstrate a possible non-perturbative $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric saddle point for $D=3$.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures, added figures and fixed typo

Temperament and Aggression in Early Childhood

Temperament has been associated with aggressive behaviors (Rothbart, Ahadi, & Evans, 2000); however, the nature of this relationship would benefit from more specificity. This project focused on the temperament dimensions of shyness and inhibitory control. Shyness is marked by slow, avoidant, or inhibited approaches to novel social situations or uncertainty, whereas inhibitory control is the ability to “suppress inappropriate approach responses under instructions or in novel or uncertain situations” (Rothbard, Ahadi, & Hershey, 1994, p. 29). We tested two types of aggression evident in early childhood. Proactive aggression is characterized by expecting positive outcomes from aggression and involves many aspects of social interaction, whereas reactive aggression is more automatic and less verbal. We focused on age 4 years when children are beginning to prepare for the transition to kindergarten, which could present challenges for children who are shy or who have low inhibitory control, especially if these aspects are linked to aggression. We predicted that inhibitory control would be negatively correlated with aggression, whereas shyness might be positively correlated with aggression. To date, 72 parents of 4-year-old children reported their child’s temperament using the Short Version of the Children’s Behavior Questionnaire Shyness and Inhibitory Control subscales (Rothbart, Ahadi, Hershey, & Fisher, 2001). Additionally, parents completed the Proactive Reactive Aggression Questionnaire (Dodge & Coie, 1987). Participants were recruited from area preschools and organizations serving children and families. As predicted, Pearson correlations indicated that there was a significant negative correlation between inhibitory control and proactive aggression, r(70) = -.47, p \u3c .001. Similarly, there was a significant negative correlation between inhibitory control and reactive aggression, r(70) = -.49, p \u3c .001. These findings suggest that lower inhibitory control is related to higher proactive and reactive aggression. There was not a significant correlation between shyness and proactive aggression, r(70) = -.01, p =.963, or between shyness and reactive aggression, r(70) = -.01, p = .914. Differences in temperament affect how children regulate their mood and behavior. This study provides further evidence that low inhibitory control is associated with higher levels of both proactive and reactive aggression. In contrast, no significant associations were evident for shyness and aggression. These findings help clarify the nature of relations between temperament and aggression in early childhood.https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/urspsych/1021/thumbnail.jp

A Profile of Immigrants in Arkansas

Discusses key demographic trends, economic factors, and public policy issues associated with immigrants in Arkansas, which has the fourth-fastest-growing immigrant population in the nation

Beyond Animal Husbandry: The Study of Farm Animal Cognition and Ensuing Ethical Issues

Concerns about the welfare of agricultural animals in corporate or “factory farming” systems are growing. Increasingly, it is suggested that modern farm animal production practices are morally objectionable, causing physical and mental suffering to animals. Such criticisms are premised on beliefs about the mental capacities of farm animals that are not wholly supported by scientific evidence, for little is known about farm animal cognition. Some animal scientists, realizing that concerns about the treatment of agricultural animals cannot be addressed in absence of knowledge about farm animal mentality, have begun cognitive studies of farm animals. Subsequently, several ethical problems have emerged. In this paper it is argued that while farm animal cognition studies are needed, scientists must consider the moral problems and implications of the research, and must devise empirically testable hypotheses about those aspects of cognitive behavior that are relevant to discussions about moral treatment of farm animals

Undergraduate student expectations of role requirements and pedagogic relationships in a business school: a psychological contract approach

Ongoing research has identified a potential disconnect in academic and pedagogic expectation between academic staff and students. At the same time a context of higher tuition fees and changing student expectations renders this relationship even more important to the success of higher education institutions. This research investigated the sources of student expectations for the pedagogic relationship, the alignment between staff and student expectations and the potential impact of expectation fulfilment and frustration on the student experience. The study used the Psychological Contract as a theoretical framework, responding to recent calls for the further use of psychological contracts in education. The author has taught business in both secondary and university contexts for a number of years. This experience informed the phenomenological positioning of the thesis, its focus, its location in a large post -’92 business school, its mixed methods and an analytical method (template analysis) which has enabled both anticipated and emergent themes to be explored. Data was collected from a sample of students at regular intervals throughout their first year of study and from staff. Both exploratory statistical analysis of survey data and template analysis of interviews suggested that staff and students’ initial expectations broadly concur. However the practical implications of such notions as ‘independent learning’ develop significantly over the first year and it is contended that pre-entry expectations are significantly influenced by students’ experience of the pedagogic relationship at tertiary education level. The initial pedagogic psychological contract changes significantly over the first year as post entry experiences (or the ‘reality shock’) reshapes and reconfigures their expectations. The research developed a series of recommendations to both secondary schools and universities to improve the management of expectations

Management Practices of Cats Owned by Faculty, Staff, and Students at Two Midwest Veterinary Schools

Understanding cat owners’ housing, care, and management practices is important for promoting cat welfare. A survey study was conducted on the housing and management practices used for cats by students, faculty, and staff of The Ohio State University and Purdue University veterinary colleges. Subjects were 138 cat-owner dyads. Most cats (74%) were housed strictly indoors in keeping with common US veterinary recommendations. However, many did not implement best practices outlined for behavior and other welfare needs of indoor cats. The percentage of respondents placing resources where cats could be disrupted while using them was 31%, 53%, and 30% for resting areas, food/water dishes, and litter boxes, respectively. Many cats were not provided a litter box in a private area (35%), in multiple areas of the house (51%), or that was regularly washed (73%). Horizontal scratching opportunities were not provided to 38% of cats; 32% were not provided toys that mimic prey and 91% of cats were fed a diet consisting of >75% dry food. These findings suggest a need for more concerted efforts to educate owners about meeting their cats’ welfare needs so as to attenuate risks and improve cat physical and behavioral welfare outcomes

Mission Engineering and the CubeSat System Reference Model - Status #2

The International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) Space System Working Group (SSWG) has created the CubeSat System Reference Model™ (CSRM™) intended for use by system architects and engineers as a starting point to develop the physical architecture of the Space and Ground segments of the CubeSat mission of interest to them. The CSRM is based on Model-Based System Engineering (MBSE) principles, is System Modeling Language™ (SysML™) v1.7 compliant, and hosted in a graphical modeling tool. The CSRM has been submitted to the Object Management Group (OMG) and is in the finalization process to become an OMG Specification. With the development of the CSRM nearing completion, the INCOSE SSWG is now researching how features of the CSRM can be used at a higher level to support Mission Engineering (ME). ME, a concept where the mission itself is looked at as a system, is being explored as a means to maintain balance between the spacecraft system, operations (including ground systems), and the mission (the integration of needed capabilities). An earlier paper provided an initial assessment of where the CSRM supports ME activities and where there are areas that require further research. That paper proposed a way forward that included a set of activities needed to completely define what additions would be required to extend the CSRM to fully support ME. One of those activities was to analyze the CSRM for additional artifacts which could be added to the containment tree for key elements of ME activities that do not map to the CSRM. This paper provides the results of performing that activity for two ME activities: the Mission Architecting Activity and the Mission-oriented Systems-of-Systems (SoS) Implementation Activity

Access to veterinary care: evaluating working definitions, barriers, and implications for animal welfare

Humans have a moral obligation to meet the physical and mental needs of the animals in their care. This requires access to resources such as veterinary care, which is integral to achieving animal welfare. However, “access” to veterinary care is not always homogenous across communities and currently lacks a consistent definition. The objectives of this scoping review were to (1) understand how “access” to veterinary care has been defined in the literature, (2) map a broad list of potential barriers that may influence access to veterinary care, and (3) identify how access to care impacts the welfare of companion and livestock animals. The literature search yielded a total of 1,044 publications, 77 of which were relevant to our inclusion criteria, and were published between 2002 and 2022. Studies were most frequently conducted in the United States (n = 17) and Canada (n = 11). Publications defining access to veterinary care (n = 10) or discussing its impacts on animal welfare (n = 13) were minimal. However, barriers to accessing veterinary care were thoroughly discussed in the literature (n = 69) and were categorized into ten themes according to common challenges and keywords, with financial limitations (n = 57), geographic location (n = 35), and limited personnel/equipment (n = 32) being the most frequently reported. The results of this scoping review informed our proposed definition of access to veterinary care. Additionally, our findings identified a need to further investigate several understudied barriers relating to access to care (i.e., veterinarian-client relationship, client identity) and to better understand how they potentially affect animal welfare outcomes