Hispanic Immigrants\u27 Access to Health Care in the United States: Through the Lens of Ethnicity, Income, and Length of Stay in the U.S.

This presentation discusses documented adult Hispanic immigrants and their access to healthcare in the United States. Immigrants have lesser access to health care and poorer quality care than their natural-born counterparts. This is due to many different factors that I discuss here, such as income level, how long they have been in the United States, country of origin, and ethnicity. A lot of research has been done on the topic of immigrant health care access, but each study tends to focus on one variable that affects access or quality of care. By using surveys such as the National Health Interview Survey, I argue that all of these factors intersect and negatively impact immigrants and their health care experience in the United States. Lower income levels mean lesser access to health insurance and to quality physicians, medications, and treatment. The longer an immigrant is in the United States, the more accustomed they are to the American healthcare system and culture as a whole, making it significantly easier for them to navigate. An immigrant’s country of origin can put them at a higher risk for certain diseases and illnesses and can also greatly affect the level to which an immigrant can trust health care workers. Hispanics immigrating to the U.S. often face multiple of these barriers at once, making it almost impossible to receive adequate care. Equal access to health care for immigrants is important to everyone in their area, as their health affects the community as a whole. All things considered, health care is a basic human right and there are significant barriers between immigrants and quality health care that U.S.-born citizens do not have to face.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2021/1059/thumbnail.jp

Cultivating Vocational and Independent Living Skills through Meaningful Occupations

A 12-week curriculum was developed for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to teach life skills, employment skills and foster independent living. These skills are taught in a simulated environment including rooms such as: the bedroom, the living room, and the office

What are the outcomes of the various experiences of peacekeeping?

The purpose of this study was to examine peacekeeping experiences in their most meaningful context. The aim was to attempt to formulate a hypothesis based on interpretations, deductions and conclusions drawn from collected data. A qualitative constant comparison method was applied, and grounded theory was employed to enable the concurrent collection and analysis of data. The data was gathered by means of a questionnaire which was answered by respondents from both Finland and Ireland, the required respondents being either serving or having served as peacekeepers. The participants answered a request that was posted on peacekeeping websites, and consequently there were thirteen respondents, eight of whom were Irish and five of whom were Finnish. They answered questions that addressed among other topics, their reasons for choosing to become peacekeepers, their experience of multinational environments, contact with host societies, perceptions of vulnerability, personal memories, and if or how their experience had changed them in any discernible way. What emerged from the study was evidence that cultural and intercultural awareness were significant, but mostly unrecognized components of, and consequences of peacekeeping service. This was reflected in the manner in which the respondents referred to peacekeepers of other nationalities, the cultures of host societies, and how they expressed an awareness of their own place in the World. The principal conclusion of the thesis was the hypothesis that in the light of the significant cultural contexts of peacekeeping, intercultural and gender awareness education could enhance peacekeeping effectiveness and that future research might generate the quantity and quality of data necessary for broad based and far reaching programmes of education to be formulated that would be an integral component of peacekeeping training

Analysis of gene regulation by Mycobacterium tuberculosis Lexa

The aim of this project is to analyse the regulation of gene expression by Mycobacterium tuberculosis LexA protein. The response to DNA damage by bacteria is highly conserved, involving the co-ordinated expression of more than 20 genes. The key regulatory elements are the RecA and LexA proteins, the activator and repressor respectively. Li addition to understanding the DNA binding properties of LexA, a detailed definition of the LexA binding site will allow the identification of other LexA regulated genes from the recently completed M. tuberculosis genome sequence. Under normal conditions LexA binds to a specific DNA sequence, the SOS box upstream of the genes it regulates and represses transcription. M tuberculosis LexA protein has been shown to bind to the same motif as that found upstream of DNA damage-inducible genes in Bacillus subtilis. The consensus sequence (GAAC-N4-GTTC) has been proposed to function as an operator site that is required for regulation of the SOS system of B. subtilis. Following the discovery of a perfect consensus motif which failed to bind LexA, the effects on LexA binding of various changes to the bases flanking the core motif from upstream of M tuberculosis recA were assessed. The results showed that the sequence determining LexA binding in M tuberculosis is more extensive than the original defined binding site of B. subtilis. These mutations were also introduced into the recA promoter linked to a lacZ reporter gene to assess their effects on gene expression in vivo. In order to investigate the core motif (GAAC- N4-GTTC) changes were made to each base in one half-site individually and the effects of these changes on LexA binding were assessed by gel retardation. To aid interpretation of the binding studies the intracellular concentration of LexA molecules was determined in M. tuberculosis H37Rv. Interestingly, upstream of the M. tuberculosis LexA coding sequence there are three motifs similar to the B. subtilis consensus sequence (GAAC-N4-GTTC), one of which is atypical (GAAC-N4-GTTT, GAAC-N4-GATC and ACTC-N4- GTTC). All three motifs were shown to bind purified M. tuberculosis LexA, but with very different affinities when in isolation. Footprinting analysis of LexA binding to a fragment containing all three sites was undertaken to examine the order of binding and any cooperativity. The presence of multiple binding sites for LexA might allow a more subtle level of regulation than would be possible with a single site. The roles of the three sites were investigated by constructing mutants with individual, or pairs of, or all three boxes knocked out in a fusion of this region to the reporter gene lacZ. Footprinting experiments were undertaken to confirm binding was eliminated where expected and to examine any effect on binding at the other sites. Concurrently, assays of the reporter gene were used to examine the effect of these mutations on lexA expression in response to DNA damage. These analyses revealed a complex interplay amongst the binding sites

Caterpillar Thermal Tolerance

Organisms must continually adapt to changing environmental conditions to survive. We focused on caterpillars because they are very sensitive to temperature and play an important role in many food webs. We hoped to determine if size or phylogeny affect thermal tolerance. We hypothesized that caterpillars with lower masses would have higher thermal tolerance because past studies found smaller organisms had higher thermal tolerances. We also hypothesized that caterpillar species with similar evolutionary histories would have similar thermal tolerances. We collected 156 caterpillars and exposed the caterpillars to extreme high and low temperatures and recorded the temperatures at which they lost motor control (critical thermal minimum and maximum). Our results do not show significant correlations between thermal tolerance and evolutionary history or caterpillar size. It is possible that other factors such as season or symbiotic relationships affect thermal tolerance.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2023/1138/thumbnail.jp

The experiences of Myocardial Infarction patients readmitted within six months of Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Aims and objectives: To explore the experiences of patients readmitted due to potential ischaemic heart disease symptoms within six months of primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Background: Following myocardial infarction and primary percutaneous coronary intervention, some patients experience potential ischaemic heart disease symptoms that may lead to readmission. Symptoms may be related to cardiac ischaemia, reduced psychological health or a comorbid condition. Design: A qualitative study involving semistructured, in-depth interviews conducted once, mean 196 (50–384) days following readmission (at least six months following original ST-elevation myocardial infarction and primary percutaneous coronary intervention). This is the qualitative part of a mixed methods study. Methods: Participants were purposefully selected, and concurrent sampling, data collection and data analysis were performed. Data were organised using framework analysis; constant comparative analysis involving deduction and induction led to identification of cogent themes and subthemes. Results: Twenty-five participants (14 men, 27–79 years) experienced 1–4 readmissions; discharge diagnoses were cardiac, psychological, indeterminate, pulmonary and gastric. Three main themes emerged: (1) anxiety, uncertainty and inability to determine cause of symptoms, (2) fear of experiencing further myocardial infarction and (3) insufficient opportunity to validate self-construction of illness. Conclusion: Fear of dying or experiencing a further myocardial infarction led to patients seeking help at the time of potential ischaemic heart disease symptoms. Participants were anxious and lacked understanding regarding symptom attribution at the time of readmission and generally following their heart attack. Additionally, original heart attack symptoms were used as a comparator for future symptoms. Participants reported feeling well immediately after primary percutaneous coronary intervention but later experiencing fatigue and debilitation often linked to potential ischaemic heart disease symptoms. Relevance to clinical practice: Increased education and information related to symptom attribution post-primary percutaneous coronary intervention and postreadmission are worthy of exploration and may lead to increased understanding and reassurance for this patient group

Challenges in conducting natural experiments in parks - lessons from the REVAMP study

Experimental evidence on the role of the built environment for promoting physical activity is important for informing how to create cities that promote active living. Parks provide opportunities for physical activity, however, there is little robust evidence on the impact of park refurbishment. Government agencies often modify parks, providing opportunities for natural experiment studies of these interventions. Such an opportunity was provided by the modification of a large park in Victoria, Australia in 2013 when the Recording and EValuating Activity in a Modified Park (REVAMP) study was established. Based on insights from the REVAMP study, this paper discusses challenges involved in conducting natural experiments in park settings, focussing on issues that may help design more effective future evaluations of the impact of park refurbishment. Natural experiments offer unique opportunities to evaluate the impact of large-scale changes to the built environment. They provide valuable data that might not otherwise be possible to gather, because of the costs associated with modification of the environment. However, factors beyond the control of the study team contribute to the complexity of both organising and conducting natural experiments, with potential flow-on effects to the quality of data. Therefore many extraneous factors need to be considered when designing, costing and conducting natural experiments, studies should identify opportunities to include key partners from the inception of the project, be flexible yet robust, and allow sufficient funding to accommodate unexpected changes in the research protocol

Challenges in conducting natural experiments in parks - lessons from the REVAMP study

Experimental evidence on the role of the built environment for promoting physical activity is important for informing how to create cities that promote active living. Parks provide opportunities for physical activity, however, there is little robust evidence on the impact of park refurbishment. Government agencies often modify parks, providing opportunities for natural experiment studies of these interventions. Such an opportunity was provided by the modification of a large park in Victoria, Australia in 2013 when the Recording and EValuating Activity in a Modified Park (REVAMP) study was established. Based on insights from the REVAMP study, this paper discusses challenges involved in conducting natural experiments in park settings, focussing on issues that may help design more effective future evaluations of the impact of park refurbishment. Natural experiments offer unique opportunities to evaluate the impact of large-scale changes to the built environment. They provide valuable data that might not otherwise be possible to gather, because of the costs associated with modification of the environment. However, factors beyond the control of the study team contribute to the complexity of both organising and conducting natural experiments, with potential flow-on effects to the quality of data. Therefore many extraneous factors need to be considered when designing, costing and conducting natural experiments, studies should identify opportunities to include key partners from the inception of the project, be flexible yet robust, and allow sufficient funding to accommodate unexpected changes in the research protocol

Modeling of two-dimensional DNA display

2D display is a fast and economical way of visualizing polymorphism and comparing genomes, which is based on the separation of DNA fragments in two steps, according first to their size and then to their sequence composition. In this paper, we present an exhaustive study of the numerical issues associated with a model aimed at predicting the final absolute locations of DNA fragments in 2D display experiments. We show that simple expressions for the mobility of DNA fragments in both dimensions allow one to reproduce experimental final absolute locations to better than experimental uncertainties. On the other hand, our simulations also point out that the results of 2D display experiments are not sufficient to determine the best set of parameters for the modeling of fragments separation in the second dimension and that additional detailed measurements of the mobility of a few sequences are necessary to achieve this goal. We hope that this work will help in establishing simulations as a powerful tool to optimize experimental conditions without having to perform a large number of preliminary experiments and to estimate whether 2D DNA display is suited to identify a mutation or a genetic difference that is expected to exist between the genomes of closely related organisms.Comment: accepted in Electrophoresi

Co-design of a personalised digital intervention to improve vegetable intake in adults living in Australian rural communities

\ua9 2024, The Author(s). Background: Diets low in vegetables are a main contributor to the health burden experienced by Australians living in rural communities. Given the ubiquity of smartphones and access to the Internet, digital interventions may offer an accessible delivery model for a dietary intervention in rural communities. However, no digital interventions to address low vegetable intake have been co-designed with adults living in rural areas. This paper describes the co-design of a digital intervention to improve vegetable intake with rural community members and research partners. Methods: Active participants in the co-design process were adults ≥ 18 years living in three rural Australian communities (total n = 57) and research partners (n = 4) representing three local rural governments and one peak non-government health organisation. An iterative co-design process was undertaken to understand the needs (pre-design phase) and ideas (generative phase) of the target population. Eight online workshops and a community survey were conducted between July and December 2021. The MoSCoW prioritisation method was used to help participants identify the ‘Must-have, Should-have, Could-have, and Won’t-have or will not have right now’ features and functions of the digital intervention. Workshops were transcribed and inductively analysed using NVivo. Convergent and divergent themes were identified between the workshops and community survey to identify how to implement the digital intervention in the community. Results: Consensus was reached on a concept for a digital intervention that addressed individual and food environment barriers to vegetable intake, specific to rural communities. Implementation recommendations centred on (i) food literacy approaches to improve skills via access to vegetable-rich recipes and healthy eating resources, (ii) access to personalisation options and behaviour change support, and (iii) improving the community food environment by providing information on and access to local food initiatives. Conclusions: Rural-dwelling adults expressed preferences for personalised intervention features that can enhance food literacy and engagement with community food environments. This research will inform the development of the prototyping (evaluation phase) and feasibility testing (post-design phase) of this intervention