Associations of Early Sexual Initiation, Family Circumstances, and STD Incidence

BACKGROUND: According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2008 global estimate, approximately 498 million individuals worldwide become infected each year with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or infection. Although adolescents only make up about a quarter of the sexually active population, approximately half of the newly reported STDs in the U.S each year are among individuals aged 15-24 years (The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2014). The CDC reports that approximately 46.8% of U.S. high school students reported already having experienced their sexual debut. When adolescents engage in sexual behaviors earlier, it puts them at greater risk for other risky behaviors and ultimately STD incidence. Family circumstances are also considered to have an impact on an adolescent’s likelihood to engage in earlier sexual behaviors. METHODS: Data were obtained from the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent to Adult Health, Waves I and IV. Logistic regression was used to measure the strength of the relationship between early sexual debut and STD, and was also conducted to determine which family circumstances have the strongest associations with both early sexual debut and STD incidence. Statistical interaction was included to test for effect modification in the model. Gender was shown to be a significant predictor of STD incidence; therefore the model was tested for differential effects by gender. RESULTS: Adolescents experiencing an early sexual debut (age) were 2.22 times more likely to experience an STD than those with a late debut (≥ 15 years of age) (95% CI 1.88, 2.62). With respect to family circumstances and their relation to STD, the strongest association lay within adolescents’ perception of fathers caring “none to very little” and STD incidence (OR=2.75, 95% CI: 1.60-4.70). The strongest associations of family circumstances with early sexual debut were adolescents whose mothers served jail time (OR=3.38, 95%CI: 2.37-4.82) and adolescents who felt like their mothers approved of their sex lives (OR=3.11, 95%CI: 2.09-4.64). Age of sexual debut was tested for statistical interaction in the model and was only significant among the variable for mother figure. Stratifying for gender, relationship to mother figure for males proved to have a statistically significant interaction with debut for both levels of mother figure (No mother p DISCUSSION: Public health intervention programs that address adverse health consequences of early sexual debut among adolescents would be beneficial. Programs should consider familial structure among adolescents, particularly male adolescents, as a factor in modifying an adolescent’s likelihood to engage in sexual risk behaviors and risk of subsequent STD

Pedogenesis in Rain Gardens: The Role of Earthworms and Other Organisms in Long-Term Soil Development

As bioretention comes into widespread use, it has become increasingly important to understand the development of bioretention soils over time. The objective of this research is to investigate the development of bioretention soils and the importance of ecological processes in the performance of rain gardens. The research includes descriptive studies of pre-existing rain garden soil profiles, laboratory experiments quantifying the effect of earthworms on infiltration rates, and a simulation model describing the influence of earthworms and soil organic matter on infiltration. Surveys of several different rain gardens of various ages provide the first detailed descriptions of rain garden soil profiles. The study revealed a great deal of biological activity in rain gardens, and evidence of pedogenesis even in very young sites. The uppermost soil layers were found to be enriched with organic matter, plant roots, and soil organisms. The field sites surveyed showed no signs of clogging due to the trapping of suspended solids carried in stormwater runoff. Some evidence was found of higher than expected infiltration rates at the field sites, which may be attributable to the effects of bioturbation by living organisms. The ability of earthworms to mitigate the effects of trapped suspended solids on bioretention soils was assessed in the laboratory. Results show that earthworms are capable of maintaining the infiltration rate of bioretention soils, but that their effects have a high degree of variability. This variability is attributed to soil aggregate instability caused by the oversimplification of the ecosystem. Other organisms play a significant role in stabilizing earthworm burrows and casts, and may be essential ingredients in a self-maintaining bioretention ecosystem. A simulation model of the action of earthworms on soil infiltration rates was developed in order to illustrate the physical processes taking place as a result of earthworm activity. The model was calibrated using data from the field study and microcosm experiment. This research is intended to provide a first glimpse into the biological processes at work in rain garden soils. The research shows that soil organisms are present in rain gardens, and suggests that their impact on bioretention performance may be significant

Access to an Outdoor Classroom and Changes in Classroom Environment: Elementary School Teachers� Perspectives

The current climate of education is focused on student outcomes. Outdoor and Environmental Education have been shown to positively impact academic achievement, classroom environment and culture, as well as increased engagement and motivation (Desmond, Grieshop & Subramaniam, 2002; Lieberman & Hoody, 1998; Volk & Cheak, 2003). The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between access to an outdoor classroom and changes in classroom environment. Teachers from two elementary schools in a moderately small community in Oklahoma completed the Teacher Version of the My Class Inventory � Short Form (Sink & Spencer, 2007) once in the September and again in February. Teachers at the treatment school had access to an outdoor classroom and teachers at the comparison school did not. Due to demographic differences between the two schools, first, pre-test differences were analyzed using a Mann Whitney U. There were no statistically significant differences in pre-test scores on the scales of competitiveness, difficulty, or peer relations between the treatment and comparison schools. There was a statistically significant difference in pre-test scores of satisfaction; however, this statistical difference was no longer present among the post-test scores. Based on the literature that shows outdoor education can be related to positive changes in classroom environment and student academic achievement, this change in satisfaction scores could be attributed to access to an outdoor classroom (Desmond, Grieshop & Subramaniam, 2002; Glenn, 2000; Lieberman & Hoody, 1998; Volk & Cheak, 2003). There were no statistically significant differences in post-test scores on competitiveness, difficulty, or peer relations. However, descriptive data illustrates a larger picture of the use and benefits of the outdoor classroom at the treatment school, further supporting previous literature about the impact of outdoor education and environmental education. This study paves the way for future research on the relationship between outdoor education and the indoor classroom environment.Education (PhD

Recreation Experience Preference Among First-Year College Students

The purpose of this study was to investigate the link, if any, between recreation experience preference and demographics or type of event among first-year college students at Oklahoma State University. The researcher investigated the recreation experience preferences of first-year college students who chose to participate in freshman-based, outdoor-oriented programs provided by the university. A modified version of the Recreation Experience Preference scales provided by Driver (1983) along with a questionnaire about demographic information was administered to volunteers following each event. There was no significant difference in Recreation Experience Preference Scales scores based on demographics or type of event. Low participation rates adversely affected analysis. There were, however, interesting trends in items consistently chosen as important or unimportant to the participants. Domains that showed high mean scores among the participants were (1) Achievement/Stimulation, (2) Learning, and (3) Escape Personal-Social Pressures. "To experience new and different things" had the highest mean score, which indicates that learning is very important to these participants. On the other hand, domains that showed low mean scores among the participants were (1) Escape Physical Pressure, (2) Risk Reduction, and (3) Autonomy/Leadership. "To be alone" had the lowest mean score, indicating that it was least important to the participants, which is consistent with Tinto's model that suggests social integration is essential.School of Teaching and Curriculum Leadershi

Modification of Ti6Al4V Substrates with Well-defined Zwitterionic Polysulfobetaine Brushes for Improved Surface Mineralization

Osteoconductive mineral coatings are beneficial for improving the osteointegration of metallic orthopedic/dental implants, but achieving adequate structural integration between the surface minerals and underlying metallic substrates has been a significant challenge. Here, we report covalent grafting of zwitterionic poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (pSBMA) brushes on the Ti6Al4V substrates to promote the surface-mineralization of hydroxyapatite with enhanced surface mineral coverage and mineral-substrate interfacial adhesion. We first optimized the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) conditions for synthesizing pSBMA polymers in solution. Well-controlled pSBMA polymers (relative molecular weight up to 26,000, PDI = 1.17) with high conversions were obtained when the ATRP was carried out in trifluoroethanol/ionic liquid system at 60 °C. Applying identical polymerization conditions, surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) was carried out to graft zwitterionic pSBMA brushes (PDI \u3c 1.20) from the Ti6Al4V substrates, generating a stable superhydrophilic and low-fouling surface coating that inhibited non-specific protein absorptions without compromising the bulk mechanic property of the Ti6Al4V substrates. The zwitterionic pSBMA surface brushes, capable of attracting both cationic and anionic precursor ions during calcium phosphate apatite mineralization, increased the surface mineral coverage from 32% to 71%, and significantly reinforced the attachment of the apatite crystals on the Ti6Al4V substrate. This facile approach to surface modification of metallic substrates can be exploited to generate multifunctional polymer coatings and improve the performance of metallic implants in skeletal tissue engineering and orthopedic and dental care

Measuring psychological health in the perinatal period: workshop consensus statement, 19 March 2013

This consensus statement is the result of an invited workshop funded by the society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology on Measuring Psychological Health in the Perinatal Period which was held in Oxford on the 19th March 2013. The details of those who participated in the workshop can be found at the end of the consensus statement. The workshop evolved out of recognition that a major limitation to research and practice in the perinatal period is identifying valid, reliable and clinically relevant measures of psychological health

A Call to Action for Optimizing the Electronic Health Record in the Parenteral Nutrition Workflow

Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a complex therapeutic modality provided to neonates, children, and adults for various indications. Surveys have shown that current electronic health record (EHR) systems are in need of functionality enhancement for safe and optimal delivery of PN. This is a consensus statement from the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the American Society of Health‐System Pharmacists outlining some of the key challenges to prescribing, order review/verification, compounding, and administration of PN using EHRs today and is a call to action for clinicians and vendors to optimize their EHRs regarding the PN build and workflow.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146340/1/ncp10095.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146340/2/ncp10095_am.pd

A Call to Action for Optimizing the Electronic Health Record in the Parenteral Nutrition Workflow: Executive Summary

Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a complex therapeutic modality provided to neonates, children, and adults for various indications. Surveys have shown that current electronic health record (EHR) systems are in need of functionality enhancement for safe and optimal delivery of PN. This is a consensus statement from the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the American Society of Health‐System Pharmacists outlining some of the key challenges to prescribing, order review/verification, compounding, and administration of PN using EHRs today and is a call to action for clinicians and vendors to optimize their EHRs regarding the PN build and workflow.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146349/1/ncp10202.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146349/2/ncp10202_am.pd