Let’s Talk About it: Caregivers’ Perspective on Communication About Sexuality with Foster Youth

Foster youth are particularly at risk for pregnancy and are 2.5 times more likely to become pregnant by age 19 than their peers that are not in the child welfare system (Comlossy, 2013). Researchers have gathered that parents and children are commonly apprehensive when it comes to discussing sexual health and reproduction. Limited research has been conducted regarding the roles of caregivers as advocates for youth and caregivers’ perceptions of how to carry out this role as an educator. This study aims to further investigate caregivers’ beliefs of their self-efficacy levels in assisting youth with their sexual health and reproduction

Thrown

In this thesis paper, I will document and analyze the process of making my graduate thesis film, Thrown. I will start by stating my overall thesis statement, then move into the evaluation of my performance in regards to each specific area of the filmmaking process. I will reflect how I translated my learning at the University of New Orleans in a practical application short film exercise and detail my successes and struggles throughout the process. The goal of this investigation is to understand how I can improve in the future. In the end, I will determine if my thesis proves true, the level of my success in individual aspects of filmmaking, and the overall efficacy of Thrown as a short film

Thrown

In this thesis paper, I will document and analyze the process of making my graduate thesis film, Thrown. I will start by stating my overall thesis statement, then move into the evaluation of my performance in regards to each specific area of the filmmaking process. I will reflect how I translated my learning at the University of New Orleans in a practical application short film exercise and detail my successes and struggles throughout the process. The goal of this investigation is to understand how I can improve in the future. In the end, I will determine if my thesis proves true, the level of my success in individual aspects of filmmaking, and the overall efficacy of Thrown as a short film

The Relationship Between Early Childhood Education and Student Success

The purpose of the study was to determine whether differences exist in performance on high-stakes accountability tests in third grade and high school among seniors who attended preschool and those who did not attend preschool. Test performance was measured using 2006-2007 third grade Mississippi Curriculum Test (MCT) reading and math scaled scores, English II and Algebra I Subject Area Testing Program-2 (SATP2) scores, and ACT composite scores. The study further analyzed the difference among groups based on retention rates, gender, and socioeconomic status. The study also examined the beliefs of parents of preschool attendees about the impact of preschool on their children’s preparation for formal school success using a parent questionnaire. A total of 185 parent questionnaires were accompanied by signed parental consents and could be included in the study. Frequencies and percentages were provided for each of the independent variables. Analysis of the data found no statistically significant differences among students’ academic performance with regards to preschool type. However, statistically different results were found when considering a student’s Algebra I SATP2 scores with regard to retention history. In addition, statistically significant differences were detected on ACT scores when considering socioeconomic status and public school preschool. The study found no differences in reports of parental beliefs about the impact of preschool on reading and math readiness. The study further revealed that parents’ beliefs about the impact of preschool on reading and math were moderately positively correlated to subsequent performances MCT reading/English I SATP2 and MCT math/Algebra I SATP2 tests. Most parents agree that their child attending preschool was very effective in preparing them for success in kindergarten through twelfth grades and even future employment. However, this study revealed that as children got older parents reported less involvement with homework assistance, and volunteering at their child’s school. Parents were neutral or in agreement up through grade five, after which many disagreed to volunteering at their child’s school, receiving helpful information from school, and helping with homework

Genetic Diversity in the Himalayan Populations of Nepal and Tibet

The Himalayan Mountain range encompasses an unparalleled landscape featuring some of the planet’s highest peaks, including Mount Everest. In the heart of this massive orographic barrier lies Nepal, sandwiched in the historically geostrategic position between the Tibetan plateau to the north and India in the south. Until recently, Nepalese and Tibetan populations remained poorly characterized genetically, partly because of their inaccessible geographical locations. In the present study, the genetic diversity of these two Himalayan populations is evaluated using different marker systems, including mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) in the autosomes as well as on the Y-chromosome (Y-STR). While autosomal STRs are distributed throughout the genome and are biparentally inherited, the Y-chromosome and mtDNA are haploid markers and provide the paternal and maternal histories of the population, respectively. Fifteen autosomal STR loci were typed in 341 unrelated individuals from three Nepalese populations (188), namely Tamang (45), Newar (66) and Kathmandu (77), and a general collection from Tibet (153). These samples were also sequenced for the mtDNA control region and all of them were subsequently assigned to 75 different mtDNA haplogroups and sub-haplogroups by screening their diagnostic sites in the coding region using Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism analysis and/or sequencing, thus achieving an unprecedented level of resolution. The results from the autosomal and mtDNA data suggest a Northeast Asian origin for the Himalayan populations, with significant genetic influence from the Indian subcontinent in Kathmandu and Newar, corroborating our previous Y-chromosome study. In contrast, Tibet displays a limited Indian component, suggesting that the Himalayan massif acted as a natural barrier for gene flow from the south. The presence of ancient Indian mtDNA lineages in Nepal implies that the region may have been inhabited by the earliest settlers who initially populated South Asia. In addition, seventeen Y-STR loci were analyzed in 350 Tibetan males from three culturally defined regions of historical Tibet: Amdo (88), Kham (109) and U-Tsang (153). The results demonstrate that the 17 Y-STR loci studied are highly polymorphic in all the three Tibetan populations examined and hence are useful for forensic cases, paternity testing and population genetic studies

Small Retail Business Strategies Used to Prevent Employee Fraud in North Carolina

Fraud could result in adverse business outcomes for small business owners. Small business owners are concerned with preventing fraud to increase the financial stability of small businesses. Grounded in the fraud triangle theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies small business owners use to prevent and detect fraud in their businesses. Participants included five small business owners in North Carolina who successfully implemented strategies to prevent and detect fraud. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of company documents. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis, which yielded four themes: monitoring, contractual agreements, contractual disputes, and revisions. A key recommendation for small business owners is to periodically review and update monitoring controls to ensure the proper checks and balances are in place to prevent and detect fraud. The implications for positive social change include the potential financial stability of the small business and the local community

Small Retail Business Strategies Used to Prevent Employee Fraud in North Carolina

Fraud could result in adverse business outcomes for small business owners. Small business owners are concerned with preventing fraud to increase the financial stability of small businesses. Grounded in the fraud triangle theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies small business owners use to prevent and detect fraud in their businesses. Participants included five small business owners in North Carolina who successfully implemented strategies to prevent and detect fraud. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of company documents. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis, which yielded four themes: monitoring, contractual agreements, contractual disputes, and revisions. A key recommendation for small business owners is to periodically review and update monitoring controls to ensure the proper checks and balances are in place to prevent and detect fraud. The implications for positive social change include the potential financial stability of the small business and the local community

Shoot the Messenger or Change the Message: What are African American Men Learning About Choosing College?

This study identified and described the experiences of twelve African American men that influenced the choice to participate in postsecondary education. This qualitative study used a phenomenology framework to determine 1) the formation of predisposition in the college choice process, 2) the messages received about college from influential people, and 3) perception and interpretation of the importance of a college degree. The overall theme arising from the data is that the college choice process was complicated and inconsistent; however, ten of the twelve participants completed some type of postsecondary training. Deficient messages about postsecondary education manifested as low parental support for college attendance, low academic expectations, withholding of important information from school officials and little or no exposure to postsecondary institution campuses or students. Influential people for the participants ranged from parents to themselves, and from a combination of characteristics from different people, to peers, to no one. The informants did not consistently identify their role model as the one who influenced them to attend college. The perception of the value of a college degree varied among the participants. Some described the degree as a requirement for success; others felt that strengthening family and achieving financial independence was more important

Spatial and temporal homogeneity of driver mutations in diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.

Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gliomas (DIPGs) are deadly paediatric brain tumours where needle biopsies help guide diagnosis and targeted therapies. To address spatial heterogeneity, here we analyse 134 specimens from various neuroanatomical structures of whole autopsy brains from nine DIPG patients. Evolutionary reconstruction indicates histone 3 (H3) K27M-including H3.2K27M-mutations potentially arise first and are invariably associated with specific, high-fidelity obligate partners throughout the tumour and its spread, from diagnosis to end-stage disease, suggesting mutual need for tumorigenesis. These H3K27M ubiquitously-associated mutations involve alterations in TP53 cell-cycle (TP53/PPM1D) or specific growth factor pathways (ACVR1/PIK3R1). Later oncogenic alterations arise in sub-clones and often affect the PI3K pathway. Our findings are consistent with early tumour spread outside the brainstem including the cerebrum. The spatial and temporal homogeneity of main driver mutations in DIPG implies they will be captured by limited biopsies and emphasizes the need to develop therapies specifically targeting obligate oncohistone partnerships

EFFECTIVENESS OF INTRAVENOUS ACETAMINOPHEN ADMINISTRATION IN THE POSTOPERATIVE PAIN MANAGEMENT OF THE CESAREAN SECTION PATIENT

Intravenous (IV) acetaminophen has been used internationally as part of a multimodal approach to pain management for general surgeries and some post cesarean sections.  In the case of post cesarean pain management, there is little evidence to support its use. The purpose of this evidenced-based literature review is to determine whether IV acetaminophen reduces opioid requirements for elective cesarean sections with neuraxial anesthesia. Google Scholar, CINAHL, PubMed, Cochrane, and Medline were searched. Articles addressing IV acetaminophen and cesarean section with neuraxial anesthesia were included. Outcome measurements were specific for postoperative opioid requirements, pain control satisfaction and visual analog scores. The literature review resulted in three randomized controlled trials with a total of 225 patients, of which 112 received IV acetaminophen. Two studies used fentanyl, and one used morphine. All articles found IV acetaminophen improved outcomes; three articles suggested that IV acetaminophen in combination with a nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drug was more effective. Analysis of the evidence revealed IV acetaminophen is a valuable component of multimodal therapy in the reduction of post cesarean opioid requirements. Based on the current body of evidence, we can reasonably recommend IV acetaminophen for elective cesarean section patients using neuraxial anesthesia.