Traversing barriers to health care among LGBTQ+ Latinx emerging adults: Utilizing patient experiences to model access

Enduring multiple sources of marginalization, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ+) youth of color living at the United States-Mexico border navigate stigma and health challenges surrounding their LGBTQ+ and ethnic identities. This study sought to delineate barriers to health care experienced by marginalized young adult patients. We qualitatively examined the patient experiences of 41 LGBTQ+ Latinx young adults (ages 18-24) in the Rio Grande Valley between 2016 and 2017. Often tied to their experiences of emerging adulthood, most respondents emphasized how financial barriers, including cost of services and disruptions to insurance status, prevented them from seeking care (barriers to care). However, youth also underscored how prior patient experiences tied to their ethnic and LGBTQ+ identities, including apprehension discussing their sexuality with care providers (barriers within care), shaped their health care seeking strategies. This study utilized patient experiences to delineate potential sources of barriers to care experienced by LGBTQ+ Latinx young adults. Practitioners should seek to actively create inclusive and identity-affirming care environments and be sensitive to how prior negative experiences may be deterring young adult patients from seeking care or revealing personal details during the care encounter. If we are to better model access, we need to consider the patient experiences of diverse populations. Experience Framework This article is associated with the Patient, Family & Community Engagement lens of The Beryl Institute Experience Framework (https://www.theberylinstitute.org/ExperienceFramework). Access other PXJ articles related to this lens. Access other resources related to this lens

Electroporation of Craniofacial Mesenchyme

Electroporation is an efficient method of delivering DNA and other charged macromolecules into tissues at precise time points and in precise locations. For example, electroporation has been used with great success to study neural and retinal development in Xenopus, chicken and mouse 1-10. However, it is important to note that in all of these studies, investigators were not targeting soft tissues. Because we are interested in craniofacial development, we adapted a method to target facial mesenchyme

High throughput genomic sequencing of bioaerosols in broiler chicken production facilities

Chronic inhalation exposure to agricultural dust promotes the development of chronic respiratory diseases among poultry workers. Poultry dust is composed of dander, chicken feed, litter bedding and microbes. However, the microbial composition and abundance has not been fully elucidated. Genomic DNA was extracted from settled dust and personal inhalable dust collected while performing litter sampling or mortality collection tasks. DNA libraries were sequenced using a paired-end sequencing-by-synthesis approach on an Illumina HiSeq 2500. Sequencing data showed that poultry dust is predominantly composed of bacteria (64–67%) with a small quantity of avian, human and feed DNA (\u3c 2% of total reads). Staphylococcus sp. AL1, Salinicoccus carnicancri and Lactobacillus crispatus were the most abundant bacterial species in personal exposure samples of inhalable dust. Settled dust had a moderate relative abundance of these species as well as Staphylococcus lentus and Lactobacillus salivarius. There was a statistical difference between the microbial composition of aerosolized and settled dust. Unlike settled dust composition, aerosolized dust composition had little variance between samples. These data provide an extensive analysis of the microbial composition and relative abundance in personal inhalable poultry dust and settled poultry dust

Perceived weight gain and eating disorder symptoms among LGBTQ+ adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: a convergent mixed-method study

Background: In this study, we further explore the role of COVID-19 pandemic-related stress, social support, and resilience on self-reported eating disorder symptoms (using the EDE-QS) and perceived weight gain among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ+ adults) in the US context during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Employing a convergent mixed method design, we surveyed 411 individuals, and conducted qualitative semi-structured follow-up interviews with 43 LGBTQ+ -identifying survey respondents. Using OLS regression and multinomial logistic regression, we modeled eating disorder symptoms and perceived weight gain among LGBTQ+ individuals (n = 120) and cisgender and heterosexual-identifying women (n = 230), to cisgender and heterosexual-identifying men (n = 61). We also explored complementary interview narratives among LGBTQ+ people by employing selective coding strategies. Results: Study results suggest that LGBTQ+ individuals are likely experiencing uniquely high levels of pandemic-related stress, and secondly, that pandemic-related stress is associated with elevated eating disorder symptoms and higher risk of perceived weight gain. Nearly 1 in 3 participants reported eating disorder symptoms of potentially clinical significance. Social support, but not resilient coping, was found to be protective against increased eating disorder symptoms. Qualitative analyses revealed that LGBTQ+ individuals situated physical exercise constraints, challenging eating patterns, and weight concerns within their pandemic experiences. Conclusions: Clinicians of diverse specialties should screen for eating disorder symptoms and actively engage patients in conversations about their COVID-19-related weight gain and eating behaviors, particularly with LGBTQ+ -identifying adults

Recovery of Yearling Calves from Fescue Toxicosis

Tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) S.J. Darbyshire) is widely utilized for grazing in the transition zone between the temperate and subtropical regions of the eastern U.S.A. Cattle grazing tall fescue frequently exhibit fescue toxicosis, a malady caused by consumption of toxins produced by the endophyte, Neotyphodium coenophialum. Symptoms of fescue toxicosis include retention of rough hair coat, increased body temperature and laboured respiration. Heat stress may be severe at onset of high ambient temperature and humidity. Transporting cattle exhibiting toxicosis can therefore be difficult because combined stresses of the toxicosis and transporting often result in high mortality. An experiment was conducted to measure trends in rectal temperatures for yearling steers following removal from tall fescue and placement on a fescue-free diet

Ultrasonic Measures of Backfat Depth and Ribeye Area for Steers Grazing Rye-Ryegrass at Three Stocking Rates

Last updated: 6/12/200

Weight goals, disordered eating behaviors, and BMI trajectories in US young adults

BACKGROUND: Community sample data indicate that weight control efforts in young adulthood may have associations with greater increases in body mass index (BMI) over time. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prospective associations between weight goals and behaviors in young adults and BMI trajectories over 15-year follow-up using a nationally representative sample. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort data collected from 2001 to 2018 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. PARTICIPANTS: Young adults aged 18–26 years old at baseline stratified by gender and BMI category. MAIN MEASURES: Predictors: weight goals, any weight loss/maintenance behaviors, dieting, exercise, disordered eating behaviors. Outcomes: BMI at 7- and 15-year follow-up. KEY RESULTS: Of the 12,155 young adults in the sample (54% female, 32% non-White), 33.2% reported a goal to lose weight, 15.7% to gain weight, and 14.6% to maintain weight. In unadjusted models, all groups have higher mean BMI at 7- and 15-year follow-up. In mixed effect models, goals to lose weight in men with BMI < 18.5 (5.94 kg/m2 ; 95% CI 2.58, 9.30) and goals to maintain weight in men with BMI ≥ 25 (0.44; 95% CI 0.15, 0.72) were associated with greater BMI increase compared to no weight goal. Engaging in disordered eating behaviors was associated with greater BMI increase in men with BMI < 18.5 (5.91; 2.96, 8.86) and women with 18.5 ≤ BMI < 25 (0.40; 0.16, 0.63). Dieting (− 0.24; − 0.41, − 0.06) and exercise (− 0.31; − 0.45, − 0.17) were associated with lower BMI increase in women with 18.5 ≤ BMI < 25. In women with BMI < 18.5, dieting was associated with greater BMI increase (1.35; 0.33, 2.37). CONCLUSIONS: Weight control efforts may have variable effects on BMI over time by gender and BMI category. These findings underscore the need to counsel patients on the effectiveness of weight control efforts and long-term weight management

Sun Protection Behaviors Associated with Self-Efficacy, Susceptibility, and Awareness among Uninsured Primary Care Patients Utilizing a Free Clinic

Background. Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in the United States (US). However, knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes regarding sun protection vary among the general population. The purpose of this study is to examine sun protection behaviors of low-income primary care patients and assess the association between these health behaviors and the self-efficacy, susceptibility, and skin cancer awareness. Methods. Uninsured primary care patients utilizing a free clinic (N=551) completed a self-administered survey in May and June 2015. Results. Using sunscreen was the least common tactic among the participants of this study. Skin cancer awareness and self-efficacy are important to improve sun protection behaviors. Spanish speakers may have lower levels of skin care awareness compared to US born and non-US born English speakers. Male and female participants use different sun protection methods. Conclusion. It is important to increase skin cancer awareness with self-efficacy interventions as well as education on low-cost sun protection methods. Spanish speaking patients would be a target population for promoting awareness. Male and female patients would need separate gender-specific sun protection education. Future studies should implement educational programs and assess the effectiveness of the programs to further promote skin cancer prevention among underserved populations

Classification and comparison of snow fences for the protection of transport infrastructures

Blowing snow or sand transport generates serious problems such as transport infrastructures buried under snow or sand in many parts of the world. Some of the most important problems that snow and sand storms can cause include drivers getting trapped on the roads, traffic being held up indefinitely, accidents occurring and populations being isolated. Snow fences provide a solution to this problem as they can hold back the snow, preventing displacement and wind-induced drifting. In this way, they reduce these problems on transport infrastructures and improve visibility, providing safer driving conditions. In this review, a classification is proposed of snow fences based on three basic types: earth, structural and living snow fences. Among the structural ones, non-porous and porous snow fences are distinguished. The different possibilities in terms of the placement of snow fences are also analyzed. Finally, different types of snow fences have been compared under design, construction and operation criteria. This review can provide initial guidelines for technicians to choose the best snow fence for blizzard conditions

Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the evolution of form and function in the amniote jaw.

The amniote jaw complex is a remarkable amalgamation of derivatives from distinct embryonic cell lineages. During development, the cells in these lineages experience concerted movements, migrations, and signaling interactions that take them from their initial origins to their final destinations and imbue their derivatives with aspects of form including their axial orientation, anatomical identity, size, and shape. Perturbations along the way can produce defects and disease, but also generate the variation necessary for jaw evolution and adaptation. We focus on molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate form in the amniote jaw complex, and that enable structural and functional integration. Special emphasis is placed on the role of cranial neural crest mesenchyme (NCM) during the species-specific patterning of bone, cartilage, tendon, muscle, and other jaw tissues. We also address the effects of biomechanical forces during jaw development and discuss ways in which certain molecular and cellular responses add adaptive and evolutionary plasticity to jaw morphology. Overall, we highlight how variation in molecular and cellular programs can promote the phenomenal diversity and functional morphology achieved during amniote jaw evolution or lead to the range of jaw defects and disease that affect the human condition