A Burkeian analysis of selected speeches of Bella Abzug

The purpose of this study is: (1) to examine her use of Burke’s concept of identification; (2) to explicate the strategies she employs in order to reach her desired ends; (3) to apply Burke’s dramatic Pentad (Act, Scene, Agent, Agency and Purpose) to selected speeches of Bella Abzug; (4) to examine whether or not her strategies change depending on the topic of her address and the socio-psychological stratification of her audiences; (5) to ascertain that given a certain situation, what kind of strategies will she likely employ; (6) to determine that given certain strategies, what kind of situation does it appear she believed she faced; and (7) to evaluate the general effectiveness of her rhetorical style during this period

Does Religion Influence Contraceptive Choice among Hispanic Women in Texas?

Population Research Cente

How Greater Travel Distance Due to Clinic Closures Reduced Access to Abortion in Texas

Population Research Cente

Caribbean Leucothoidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda) of Panama

Leucothoid amphipods were collected from sponge, ascidian, and bivalve mollusk hosts around Bocas del Toro, Panama. New host and locality records are reported for 10 species. Morphological variation is noted in some species originally described from Belize and South Florida. Future molecular research will help to clarify the importance of this variation. A key to the Caribbean species of the Leucothoidae collected around Bocas del Toro, Panama is provided based on morphological characters

Development of Representative Species-Level Molecular Markers and Morphological Character Analysis of Leucothoid Amphipods (Crustacea: Amphipoda)

Leucothoid amphipods were investigated using morphology and molecular rDNA gene sequence fragments. The morphological diagnostic characters for traditional taxonomy have been clarified, a molecular marker for representative species has been developed, and one of the current anamorph-leucomorph connections has been confirmed with molecular sequence data. Ultimately this study has combined traditional morphological and modern molecular methods to clarify the taxonomy and to propose a preliminary phylogeny of the Leucothoidae. Analysis of 18S rDNA gene fragments from 13 species in two genera supported the current morphological species designations and the separation of the family into two clades. Combined analysis of 18S rDNA and COI mtDNA gene fragments revealed cryptic speciation in one species occurring in Belize and Florida. For the first time in a single work, diagnostic descriptions were presented for all extant species of the Leucothoidae. Fourteen new species of Leucothoe and one new species of Paranamixis were described from Lizard Island, Australia. Morphological cladistic analysis of 64 species of the “leucothoid clade” and 33 species of the “anamixid clade” supported the collapse of the genus Leucothoella and the classification of the genera Anamixis and Paranamixis as a single genus. The poor resolution of trees in these cladistic analyses suggests that rapid ancient speciation is likely a driving factor in the evolution of this family

Barriers to Offering Vasectomy at Publicly Funded Family Planning Organizations in Texas

Few publicly funded family planning clinics in the United States offer vasectomy, but little is known about the reasons this method is not more widely available at these sources of care. Between February 2012 and February 2015, three waves of in-depth interviews were conducted with program administrators at 54 family planning organizations in Texas. Participants described their organization’s vasectomy service model and factors that influenced how frequently vasectomy was provided. Interview transcripts were coded and analyzed using a theme-based approach. Service models and barriers to providing vasectomy were compared by organization type (e.g., women’s health center, public health clinic) and receipt of Title X funding. Two thirds of organizations did not offer vasectomy on-site or pay for referrals with family planning funding; nine organizations frequently provided vasectomy. Organizations did not widely offer vasectomy because they could not find providers that would accept the low reimbursement for the procedure or because they lacked funding for men’s reproductive health care. Respondents often did not perceive men’s reproductive health care as a service priority and commented that men, especially Latinos, had limited interest in vasectomy. Although organizations of all types reported barriers, women’s health centers and Title X-funded organizations more frequently offered vasectomy by conducting tailored outreach to men and vasectomy providers. A combination of factors operating at the health systems and provider level influence the availability of vasectomy at publicly funded family planning organizations in Texas. Multilevel approaches that address key barriers to vasectomy provision would help organizations offer comprehensive contraceptive services.Population Research Cente

Hypertension among Oral Contraceptive Users in El Paso, Texas

On the U.S.-Mexico border, residents frequently cross into Mexico to obtain medications or medical care. We previously reported relatively high prevalence of hypertension among Latina oral contraceptive users in El Paso, particularly those obtaining pills over the counter (OTC) in Mexico. Here, we examine factors associated with having hypertension among 411 OTC users and 399 clinic users. We also assess hypertension awareness and interest in using blood pressure kiosks. Women age 35 to 44 and who had BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 had higher odds of having hypertension. 59% of hypertensive women had unrecognized hypertension, and 77% of all participants would use a blood pressure kiosk; there were no significant differences between clinic and OTC users. Alternative approaches to increase access to health screenings are needed in this setting, where OTC pill use among women with unrecognized hypertension confers unique health risksPopulation Research Cente

The Impact of Information about Abortion Safety on Texas Voters’ Opinions about Restrictive Laws

A substantial gap exists between the scientific evidence demonstrating the safety of abortion in the United States and public opinion about abortion safety. But recent studies suggest that it may be possible to change perceptions about health issues that are based on misinformation. This brief, by researchers from the Texas Policy Evaluation Project, demonstrates that informational statements about the safety of office-based abortion care as currently practiced in Texas significantly reduced perceptions that ambulatory surgical center and admitting privileges requirements would make abortion safer and reduced support for these requirements.Population Research Cente

Leucothoidae

Four genera and 17 species of leucothoids, the majority of these belonging to the genus Leucothoe, are herein reported from the Great Barrier Reef. Fifteen species are new to science and only Anamixis bazimut has been previously reported from the Great Barrier Reef