Resolving the Uncertainty of Preterm Symptoms: Women’s Experiences With the Onset of Preterm Labor

Objective: To describe expectant women\u27s experiences with the onset of preterm labor. Design: Qualitative, using grounded theory methods. Setting: Southwestern tertiary women\u27s hospital. Participants: Thirty pregnant women who were less than 35 weeks gestation, had experienced preterm labor within the past 7 days, and had no previous experience with preterm labor. Data Source: Taped and transcribed interviews. Results: Themes that emerged from the interview data included the following: recognition and naming of sensations, a consistent pattern of attribution of symptoms, the threat or risk inferred by the attributed cause of the symptom pattern, the associated certainty or uncertainty about these attributions, the process of interpreting and verifying symptom meaning, and the decision to self-manage the symptoms or engage health care assistance. The core process of women experiencing the onset of preterm labor symptoms was identified as resolving the uncertainty of preterm labor symptoms: recognizing and responding to the possibilities. Conclusions: Preterm labor often is not within expectant women\u27s consciousness. They may attribute the symptoms to nonthreatening causes, which results in delays in seeking care for preterm labor. Education about symptom patterns at the onset of preterm labor will increase the probability that women and their health care providers will recognize and interpret the early, subtle symptoms that herald the onset of preterm labor. Uncertainty in illness theory and attribution theory offer frameworks for understanding women\u27s experiences with the onset of preterm labor

The Impact of Professional Development in Data Based Decision Making on the Teaching Practices of Educators

The utilization of educational data by teachers\u27 at the classroom level to plan lessons and assessments is limited. Professional development is one tool that can be used to build data literacy in teachers. This study assessed how professional development in data based decision making impacted educators\u27 efficacy and use of educational data. This research was based on constructivists learning theories and used professional development as a model for changing teachers\u27 instructional practices. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of professional development in data-based decision-making on teacher efficacy and use of data at the classroom level. A one group pretest posttest quantitative study was used on a sample group of public school educators (N=226) from a school district in the Northeastern US. Surveys were administered before and after the intervention to determine if a significant difference in the efficacy and use of data to plan instruction resulted from professional development in data-based decision making. A Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test was used to analyze the data. The analysis indicated no significant difference in teacher efficacy (W=27.50; p=1.00) but did show a significant increase in the use of data at the classroom level (W=70.00; p=.003). Based on this study, professional development is an effective tool for increasing the use of data-based instructional methods at the classroom level; however, it is not effective in changing teacher efficacy. This study contributes to positive social change by promoting meaningful conversations about the power of professional development models in data-based decision making as an effective means to change teaching practices

The Female Imagery of Mary Beth Edelson and Ana Mendieta

Two major contributors to the invention of a feminine iconography in the 1970\u27s are Mary Beth Edelson and Ana Mendieta. Edelson\u27s method of inventing and defining female imagery concerns psychological and historical concepts. Mendieta’s use of body art is seen in the form of regeneration symbols, silhouettes, and animal symbols that relate to primitive cultures which are part of her Cuban heritage

Culinary Competence: Skills and Knowledge Assessment for Dietetic Students

Graduates of didactic programs in dietetics are entering internships with little cooking experience. The Food and Culinary Professionals’ Dietetic Practice Group (FCP DPG) has identified 11 core competencies that were developed as a recommendation to dietetic educators to include more culinary knowledge into existing programs. The purpose of this study was to determine if developing and incorporating experiential learning targeted to the competencies would increase dietetic students’ culinary skills and knowledge at a southern land-grant university. Food and Culinary Professionals’ DGP core competencies were used to guide the development of curriculum, experiential learning, and assessment in the Principles of Foods course for dietetics. Example experiences included identifying fruits and vegetables and culinary equipment, and performing culinary skills. The skills assessment, comprised of 50 testable components, was completed in the laboratory. The knowledge assessment was comprised of 50 short answer and fill in the blank questions, and was completed during class lecture time. Thirty- two students were assessed at the beginning of the course and after completing the course. Data were collected and analyzed by paired t-test using SPSS. There was a statistically significant increase in both assessments. There was a mean increase of 13.96± 1.1 points (

Use of bacteriophage Felix01, HL18 and HL03 to reduce Salmonella enterica Typhimurium burden in mice

Multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium are of increasing concern in the food industry and on the farm. While these strains are becoming increasingly resistant to commonly used antimicrobial agents, they remain sensitive to killing by their natural predators, bacteriophage. Bacteriophage are able kill MDR strains of Salmonella in vitro. We have recently tested the ability of a well-known salmonella bacteriophage, Felix 01 and two recently isolated phage (HL03 and HL18) to reduce the Salmonella Typhimurium burden in orally challenged, susceptible mice. When each of the phage was given at the same time as the oral Salmonella challenge, they significantly reduced the Salmonella burden in the treated mice. This lowering of Salmonella load occurred when the phage were given at a 1:10, 1:50 and 1:100 MOI when compared to the bacterial challenge dose. Interestingly, of the three phage tested (Felix, HL03 and HL18), only the last phage, HL18 was effective when given an hour before or an hour after Salmonella challenge. Felix01 and HL03 were both ineffective when given an hour before or an hour after challenge, but consistently lowered the bacterial burden in these mice when given at the same time as the challenge dose. These data indicate that bacteriophage-based therapy may be an alternative to antibiotic-based treatments to lower the Salmonella levels in swine and potentially limit the spread of Salmonella during transport and lairage of swine prior to slaughter

Winter Marketing Initiative: Missoula Convention and Visitors Bureau: Phase One Focus Group Results

Presents concerns and preferences of Missoula businesses for winter markets as well as their perceptions of the Missoula Convention and Visitors Bureau and Chamber of Commerce