Racial, Cultural And Sociopolitical Disparities In Mental Health Administration In The United States

Despite significant advances in the health care industry, recent research has revealed alarming disparities in the availability, access, and quality of health care for minorities. According to the 2001 Surgeon General’s report published by the USDHHS, even if minority groups have comparable access, socioeconomic status and insurance coverage, they are still likely to receive less, or inferior care. This paper discusses the concept of culturally sensitive mental health counseling and its feasibility, in light of the monocultural manner in which cultural and criminal subgroups are typically handled

The expression profile of purified Drosophila germline stem cells

AbstractWe developed a method to highly purify germline stem cells (GSCs) from the Drosophila ovary, one of the best understood types of adult stem cell. GSCs express variant isoforms of general transcriptional components, translation initiation factors, and several variant ribosomal proteins, including RpL22, a protein enriched in several mammalian stem cells. These novel isoforms may help regulate stem cell gene expression because a reversion assay indicated that at least four were specific for GSCs. By comparative analysis, we identify additional genes enriched in GSCs, including Psc, the Drosophila homolog of the Bmi-1 Polycomb group gene, as well as genes that may delay cytokinesis in pre-meiotic germ cells. By comparing GSCs arrested by BMP over-expression and bam mutation, we hypothesize that mRNA utilization is modulated in differentiating GSC daughters. Our findings suggest that Drosophila and mammalian stem cells utilize at least two regulatory mechanisms in common

The reproductive cycle, the embryonic and larval development and the metamorphosis of Heliocidaris erythrogramma, echinoidea.

The reproductive cycle and the development of Heliocidaris erythrogramma were investigated. The reproductive cycle was examined by regular, monthly samplings of urchins and routine histological techniques. Histochemical tests were employed to establish the phases of the reproductive cycle. Spawning and artificial fertilization were investigated in the laboratory, and the development of H. erythrogramma was followed from fertilization, through cleavage, blastulation, gastrulation, to development of the larva and metamorphosis into the juvenile urchin. A table of abnormal individuals was compiled, and representatives were sectioned in order to provide a better understanding of the processes involved in normal development

“Teacher Burnout Is One of My Greatest Fears”: Interrupting a Narrative on Fire

Teacher burnout is often positioned as a common result of the complex demands of the teaching profession (García-Carmona et al., 2019). While there is no denying the demanding nature of teaching, in this article we present an alternative perspective on the widespread burnout discussion that distinguishes between burnout and the complexities of teacher attrition, and offer a more hopeful and strengths-based approach to the teaching profession. In a qualitative study that analyzed the anticipatory beliefs that pre-service teachers expressed in a reflective assignment for a course focused on Comprehensive School Health (CSH), we found evidence to suggest that the burnout narrative may threaten teacher candidates’ self-efficacy before entering the teaching profession. We call for a disruption to the overemphasis of burnout narratives in teacher education programs as they may undermine the profession.L’épuisement professionnel des enseignants est souvent perçu comme un résultat commun découlant des exigences complexes de la profession d’enseignant (Garcia-Carmona et al., 2019). Bien que la nature exigeante de l’enseignement soit indéniable, nous présentons dans cet article une perspective alternative sur la discussion générale concernant l’épuisement professionnel qui fait la distinction entre l’épuisement professionnel et les complexités de l’attrition des enseignants, et offre une approche plus optimiste et fondée sur les forces de la profession enseignante. Une étude qualitative a analysé les croyances anticipées exprimées par des enseignants en formation initiale. Dans un travail de réflexion effectué par ceux-ci dans le cadre d’un cours axé sur la santé scolaire globale, nous avons trouvé des preuves qui indiquent que le discours sur l’épuisement professionnel peut menacer l’autoefficacité des candidats avant même leur entrée dans la profession. Nous appelons à une cessation de la trop grande importance accordée aux récits d’épuisement professionnel dans les programmes de formation à l’enseignement puisqu’elle pourrait miner la profession

Maximising potential: The psychological effects of the youth development programme Project K

Project K is a positive youth development programme targeting 13-15 year old students with low self-efficacy. It involves three components: wilderness adventure, community challenge and individual mentoring. This longitudinal study aimed to investigate changes in self-efficacy, resilience, connectedness and wellbeing in students participating in Project K. Eighty students (59% male) were recruited from five secondary schools across the North Island of New Zealand for a quasi-experimental study. Participants displaying delinquent behaviour, self-harm, suicidal ideation, or an eating disorder were excluded. Over 14 months, six waves of measurement were completed by Project K participants (n = 49), while four waves of measurement were completed by a control group (n = 31). Analyses using multilevel models showed that completion of Project K had substantial positive effects on self-efficacy, resilience, and wellbeing, although the effect on connectedness was not significant. We conclude that Project K appears to be an effective positive youth development programme for adolescents with low self-efficacy

Geographic and Sociodemographic Disparities in Drive Times to Joint Commission–Certified Primary Stroke Centers in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia

Introduction: Timely access to facilities that provide acute stroke care is necessary to reduce disabilities and death from stroke. We examined geographic and sociodemographic disparities in drive times to Joint Commission–certified primary stroke centers (JCPSCs) and other hospitals with stroke care quality improvement initiatives in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Methods: We defined boundaries for 30- and 60-minute drive-time areas to JCPSCs and other hospitals by using geographic information systems (GIS) mapping technology and calculated the proportions of the population living in these drive-time areas by sociodemographic characteristics. Age-adjusted county-level stroke death rates were overlaid onto the drive-time areas. Results: Approximately 55% of the population lived within a 30-minute drive time to a JCPSC; 77% lived within a 60-minute drive time. Disparities in percentage of the population within 30-minute drive times were found by race/ethnicity, education, income, and urban/rural status; the disparity was largest between urban areas (70% lived within 30-minute drive time) and rural areas (26%). The rural coastal plains had the largest concentration of counties with high stroke death rates and the fewest JCPSCs. Conclusion: Many areas in this tri-state region lack timely access to JCPSCs. Alternative strategies are needed to expand provision of quality acute stroke care in this region. GIS modeling is valuable for examining and strategically planning the distribution of hospitals providing acute stroke care

Systems for grading the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations I: Critical appraisal of existing approaches The GRADE Working Group

BACKGROUND: A number of approaches have been used to grade levels of evidence and the strength of recommendations. The use of many different approaches detracts from one of the main reasons for having explicit approaches: to concisely characterise and communicate this information so that it can easily be understood and thereby help people make well-informed decisions. Our objective was to critically appraise six prominent systems for grading levels of evidence and the strength of recommendations as a basis for agreeing on characteristics of a common, sensible approach to grading levels of evidence and the strength of recommendations. METHODS: Six prominent systems for grading levels of evidence and strength of recommendations were selected and someone familiar with each system prepared a description of each of these. Twelve assessors independently evaluated each system based on twelve criteria to assess the sensibility of the different approaches. Systems used by 51 organisations were compared with these six approaches. RESULTS: There was poor agreement about the sensibility of the six systems. Only one of the systems was suitable for all four types of questions we considered (effectiveness, harm, diagnosis and prognosis). None of the systems was considered usable for all of the target groups we considered (professionals, patients and policy makers). The raters found low reproducibility of judgements made using all six systems. Systems used by 51 organisations that sponsor clinical practice guidelines included a number of minor variations of the six systems that we critically appraised. CONCLUSIONS: All of the currently used approaches to grading levels of evidence and the strength of recommendations have important shortcomings

Stereotyping across intersections of race and age: Racial stereotyping among White adults working with children

This study examined the prevalence of racial/ethnic stereotypes among White adults who work or volunteer with children, and whether stereotyping of racial/ethnic groups varied towards different age groups. Participants were 1022 White adults who volunteer and/or work with children in the United States who completed a cross-sectional, online survey. Results indicate high proportions of adults who work or volunteer with children endorsed negative stereotypes towards Blacks and other ethnic minorities. Respondents were most likely to endorse negative stereotypes towards Blacks, and least likely towards Asians (relative to Whites). Moreover, endorsement of negative stereotypes by race was moderated by target age. Stereotypes were often lower towards young children but higher towards teens.The WK Kellogg Foundation provides funding to the National Voices Project as part of the America Healing initiative