A Comprehensive Evaluation of a Home Visitation Program Model\u27s Prenatal Physical Activity Curriculum Modules Delivered Primarily to Low-income Women

Background. Many low-income pregnant women receive prenatal physical activity (PA) curricula modules through home visitation programs. However, there is a lack of scientific evidence on the structural capacity, processes, and outcomes relating to these modules. Aims. The objective of this dissertation project was to examine the aforementioned in a single home visitation program model - the Maternal Infant Health Outreach Worker (MIHOW) program. More precisely, the aims of this study were to: (Aim 1) examine home visitors’ (i.e., Outreach Workers [OWs]) competencies in implementing the MIHOW program’s prenatal PA curriculum modules (i.e., structural capacity), (Aim 2) investigate the fidelity with which the MIHOW program’s prenatal PA curriculum modules were delivered to home visitation clients (i.e., processes), and (Aim 3) evaluate the impact of the MIHOW program’s curriculum on home visitation clients’ prenatal moderate-intensity physical activity (MPA) compared to a propensity score matched comparison group (i.e., outcomes). Methods. (Aim 1) A qualitative research design was used. Data from one interview and three focus groups conducted with OWs and five interviews conducted with their Site Leaders (i.e., supervisors) were used for analysis. (Aim 2) A mixed-methods research design was used. Data sources were the interviews and focus groups conducted in Aim 1 and the checklists of curriculum modules completed with 109 clients. These data sources were analyzed separately and then merged. (Aim 3) A nonrandomized quasi-experimental research design was utilized to evaluate how the MIHOW program’s pregnant clients’ (n = 98) absolute MPA metabolic equivalent of task (MET) minutes per week changed relative to a propensity score matched comparison group of pregnant women (n = 56). Physical activity measurements were taken at trimesters one, two and/or three. Generalized linear mixed modeling with a zero inflated negative binomial distribution was used as the statistical analysis strategy. Results. Key findings are shown by each aim. (Aim 1) OWs’ depth of knowledge on prenatal PA information and the modules varied; over half the OWs discussed implementing PA, rapport building, communication, adaptability, and/or problem-solving skills; over half the OWs felt comfortable delivering the modules. (Aim 2) Eight OWs discussed delivering the prenatal PA curriculum modules at multiple, most, or all of the home visits whereas the checklist data revealed that only 19.3% of clients received two or more “prenatal PA” and/or “other” curriculum modules. (Aim 3) The expected log absolute MPA MET minutes per week decreased 1.27 less for the comparison group than for the intervention group by trimester 3 [X2(1) = 4.77, p = .0289]. Conclusion. Taken together, these findings suggest that home visitors’ competencies relating to the prenatal PA curriculum modules and home visitors’ implementation of the prenatal PA curriculum modules have the potential to influence the recipients of these services. Thus, attention needs to be given to these factors when evaluating the effectiveness of home visitation program models’ prenatal PA curricula modules. Insight from this study can be used to enhance how home visitation program models’ prenatal PA curricula modules are implemented and evaluated

Employee Reactions to Paper and Electronic Surveys: An Experimental Comparison

Using a within-subjects field experiment, we tested the differences between paper-based and electronic employee surveys. Employees of a large organization were invited to respond to a paper survey as well as an identical electronic survey. Results from 134 employees who completed both questionnaires indicated that electronic surveys were seen as marginally easier to use and more enjoyable than paper surveys. However, the paper-based questionnaires produced a higher response rate. The self-reported likelihood that participants would respond to similar questionnaires in the future did not differ between the two formats. After comparing the answers on survey items that measured feelings of well-being and spending patterns, data quality also appeared to be equivalent across the two formats. Conceptual issues, as well as the implications for managers who are administering employee surveys, are discussed

A multi-scalar investigation of the colouring materials used in textile wrappings of Egyptian votive animal mummies

Commonly exhibited in museum galleries, animal mummies have been the focus of interest of both visitors and researchers alike. The study of these animal remains not only provides new insights into embalming techniques, but also brings a unique perspective on religious, social and economic practices. Twenty animal mummies are discussed in this study, including cats, ibises, crocodiles, calves and birds of prey from the collections of the British Museum (London, UK) and the Museo Egizio (Turin, Italy). The external textile wrappings encasing the mummified body of the animals were investigated with the main aim of identifying the colourants used. In fact, these are mostly patterned using undyed and coloured (mostly red, brown and black) linen strips. Broadband multispectral imaging (MSI) was initially carried out to obtain preliminary information at the macro-scale on the distribution and chemical nature of the colouring agents. Fibre optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) was then used to survey several coloured areas of the textile wrappings. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) and red ochre were identified non-invasively. Representative samples were then taken and observed using optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), in order to obtain information at the micro-scale on the distribution of the colouring agents on the fibres, as well as the presence of other materials, including those from environmental contamination. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) revealed the elemental composition of particles and clear areas of the fibres, whereas high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC\u2013MS/MS) provided the identification of the organic dyes at a molecular level. The use of hydrolysable and condensed tannins, in combination with iron as a mordant, was found to be used in the very dark shades, which generally corresponded to the textiles with the worst state of preservation. Nevertheless, other aspects, such as fibre processing and bleaching, fungal attack and presence of coating materials appeared to play a role in the evaluation of the conservation state of these textiles. The characterisation of the dyes and the additional inorganic materials contributed to elucidating the production technology of the colours used for animal mummification, and provided insights into ancient dyeing methods

Extracellular Bacterial Pathogen Induces Host Cell Surface Reorganization to Resist Shear Stress

Bacterial infections targeting the bloodstream lead to a wide array of devastating diseases such as septic shock and meningitis. To study this crucial type of infection, its specific environment needs to be taken into account, in particular the mechanical forces generated by the blood flow. In a previous study using Neisseria meningitidis as a model, we observed that bacterial microcolonies forming on the endothelial cell surface in the vessel lumen are remarkably resistant to mechanical stress. The present study aims to identify the molecular basis of this resistance. N. meningitidis forms aggregates independently of host cells, yet we demonstrate here that cohesive forces involved in these bacterial aggregates are not sufficient to explain the stability of colonies on cell surfaces. Results imply that host cell attributes enhance microcolony cohesion. Microcolonies on the cell surface induce a cellular response consisting of numerous cellular protrusions similar to filopodia that come in close contact with all the bacteria in the microcolony. Consistent with a role of this cellular response, host cell lipid microdomain disruption simultaneously inhibited this response and rendered microcolonies sensitive to blood flow–generated drag forces. We then identified, by a genetic approach, the type IV pili component PilV as a triggering factor of plasma membrane reorganization, and consistently found that microcolonies formed by a pilV mutant are highly sensitive to shear stress. Our study shows that bacteria manipulate host cell functions to reorganize the host cell surface to form filopodia-like structures that enhance the cohesion of the microcolonies and therefore blood vessel colonization under the harsh conditions of the bloodstream

Global patterns of freshwater species diversity, threat and cross-taxon congruence

Aim Global-scale studies are required to identify broad-scale patterns in the distributions of species, to evaluate the processes that determine diversity and to determine how similar or different these patterns and processes are among different groups of freshwater species. Broad-scale patterns of spatial variation in species distribution are central to many fundamental questions in macroecology and conservation biology. We aimed to evaluate how congruent three commonly used metrics of diversity were among taxa for six groups of freshwater species. Location Global. Methods We compiled geographical range data on 7083 freshwater species of mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fishes, crabs and crayfish to evaluate how species richness, richness of threatened species and endemism are distributed across freshwater ecosystems. We evaluated how congruent these measures of diversity were among taxa at a global level for a grid cell size of just under 1°. Results We showed that although the risk of extinction faced by freshwater decapods is quite similar to that of freshwater vertebrates, there is a distinct lack of spatial congruence in geographical range between different taxonomic groups at this spatial scale, and a lack of congruence among three commonly used metrics of biodiversity. The risk of extinction for freshwater species was consistently higher than for their terrestrial counterparts. Main conclusions We demonstrate that broad-scale patterns of species richness, threatened-species richness and endemism lack congruence among the six freshwater taxonomic groups examined. Invertebrate species are seldom taken into account in conservation planning. Our study suggests that both the metric of biodiversity and the identity of the taxa on which conservation decisions are based require careful consideration.As geographical range information becomes available for further sets of species, further testing will be warranted into the extent to which geographical variation in the richness of these six freshwater groups reflects broader patterns of biodiversity in fresh water

Learning Through Serving: Why University-Community Collaboration is an Educational Imperative

The objectives of this presentation were to: (1) understand how universities impact communities; (2) discuss importance of university-community collaboration; (3) review best practices for university-community collaboration; (4) explore ways to positively impact communities through university-community collaboration; and (5) learn ways to combine academic and professional goals through civic engagement

High Frequency of Cytomegalovirus-Specific Cytotoxic T-Effector Cells in HLA-A*0201-Positive Subjects during Multiple Viral Coinfections

How the cellular immune response copes with diverse antigenic competition is poorly understood. Responses of virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) were examined longitudinally in an individual coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV). CTL responses to all 3 viruses were quantified by limiting dilution analysis and staining with HLA-A*0201 tetrameric complexes folded with HIV-1, EBV, and CMV peptides. A predominance of CMV-pp65-speciflc CTL was found, with a much lower frequency of CTL to HIV-1 Gag and Pol and to EBV-BMLF1 and LMP2. The high frequency of CMV-speciflc CTL, compared with HIV-1- and EBV-specific CTL, was confirmed in an additional 16 HLA-A*0201-positive virus-coinfected subjects. Therefore, the human immune system can mount CTL responses to multiple viral antigens simultaneously, albeit with different strength