An Update to State Policy Initiatives to Reduce Teen and Adult Nonmarital Childbearing

Despite a sharp and continuing decline in the rate of teen childbearing and a leveling off in the rate of nonmarital childbearing, the U.S. teen childbearing rate remains high compared with other industrialized nations, while nonmarital childbearing rates are in the mid-range of industrialized countries (Doyle 2002). Both teen and nonmarital childbearing are associated with negative outcomes for mother and child (Maynard 1996; DHHS 1995; Seltzer 2000). These forms of childbearing also bring with them substantial costs to society; the cost of the welfare system is a source of particular concern (Maynard 1996; Moore and Wertheimer 1984). Childbearing by young and unmarried women continues to concern health practitioners, educators, the media, and the public. Indeed, the federal welfare law includes provisions to offer states incentives to discourage teen and nonmarital childbearing. While the period of decline in teen childbearing and the leveling off in nonmarital childbearing rates has coincided with the implementation of welfare waivers and a reformed welfare system, many other factors beside welfare rules may have played a role. They include the following:The vigorous economic expansion, which drew to a close in 2000;The expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit;An emerging consensus that mothers with nonmarital births should work to help support their child;Increased use of new methods of contraception, especially Depo-Provera and Norplant(R);Increased education about HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases;A focus on males as well as females for policies affecting reproductive behavior;Increased focus on child support enforcement; andA rise in conservative attitudes toward premarital sex.Child Trends conducted a survey in 2001 of all 50 states to learn how specific state policies and programs to discourage teen and nonmarital childbearing have changed since the 1999 and 1997 surveys. We summarize our findings after we review the trends in teen and nonmarital childbearing

Enantioselective Alkylation of Substituted Oxindoles Mediated by Asymmetric Organocatalysis

Chirality plays a crucial role in drug discovery and development because the biological activity of a chiral compound can be significantly affected by its stereochemistry. Thus, enantioselective processes are continually developed to increase the synthetic efficiency. Among them, asymmetric organocatalysis is a recently defined route to the sustainable production of chiral compounds. In this work, organocatalytic procedures have been tested to initiate an alkylation reaction, resulting in a quaternary chiral centre at C3 of an oxindole scaffold. Molecules bearing the oxindole moiety with a chiral C3 have been shown to be common in various compounds extracted from plant sources and are characterized by high biological activity. Some examples are alkaloids. Therefore, developing an efficient enantioselective route for 3,3’-disubstituted oxindole framework is of high interest, especially in the pharmaceutical framework. During this project, conducted at the University of Zaragoza in the Herrera-OrganoCatalisis Asimétrica Group, various oxindole substrates, differing only in the protecting group bonded to the amine of the oxindole scaffold, have been synthesized by adapting synthetic processes used for similar compounds. Subsequently, a screening of different catalysts was conducted to determine the most effective reaction conditions. In particular, various squaramide derivatives have been used as bifunctional catalysts. A screening of diverse benzohydrol alkylating agents was previously carried out by the research group, leading to the identification of Michler's hydrol as the most appropriate reactive species since it offers high yields; thus, it has been chosen as alkylating agent in this work. Additionally, more oxindole derivatives have been tested as substrates. The catalytic procedure produced similar enantiomeric excesses for all the N-substituted substrates under the tested reaction conditions, underscoring the versatility of this methodology

Diversity Management: nuove frontiere dell’inclusione e sfide per i C.U.G. universitari

[Italiano]: Un altro tassello del Progetto Trotula avviato oramai da diversi anni dal Comitato Unico di Garanzia per le pari opportunità, la valorizzazione del benessere di chi lavora e contro le discriminazioni (C.U.G.) dell’Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II: dopo il Convegno Nazionale che ha riunito gli Organismi di Parità universitari di tutta Italia, organizzato a dicembre 2019, ne pubblichiamo ora gli Atti, che abbiamo voluto fossero tempestivi, data la stringente attualità dei temi, alcuni dei quali (come ad esempio il lavoro a distanza o l’impegno profuso in ambito sanitario) persino cruciali nell’emergenza Covid-19, che stiamo affrontando.Consci che si tratta soltanto di un primo passo nello svolgimento di un percorso che sarà lungo, siamo felici di presentare qui le tante voci di una Comunità universitaria – che si interroga con il territorio sulle diverse modulazioni della cultura delle differenze, attuali e future – serie, pronte, appassionate, consapevoli ./[English]:Another step of the Trotula Project created by the University Federico II’s Equal Opportunity Committee: In December 2019, the National Congress brought together the University Equal Opportunity Committees from all over Italy. Now we are publishing the Transcripts in a period of the COVID-19 emergency, during which Diversity has appeared as a crucial theme. We know it is just a little step on a long path, but we are happy to introduce many significant, sensitive and passionate voices of a mindful Community that dialogues with its territory on culture of differences today and while thinking to the future

Vaping: Exploring perceptions and behaviors of students and ENDS products

Background: Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) have increased in use and media exposure with a 78% rise in usage between 2017 to 2018. While a gateway to addictive products, users are also unaware of the ingredients and their effects on the body. Interventions are limited. Further research is needed to investigate perceptions of ENDS and identify effective cessation strategies for young adults. Purpose: To explore the knowledge and attitudes of HS students regarding ENDS products and compare data collected over the year to determine effects of recent media exposure. Methods: Six focus groups (n = 45) were held in a rural high school. Students were asked four open ended questions which elicited dialogue regarding attitudes and behaviors about ENDS and suggestions for educational interventions. Results: Emerging themes were social and behavioral influences (peer pressure; nicotine addiction) ; knowledge deficit; media promotion or prevention. Suggested educational methods were explanation of the ingredients in ENDS, dramatic relief and visual depiction of the consequences. There was more focus in the media on prevention than last year. Conclusion/Implications: A knowledge deficit regarding the dangers of ENDS, including the damaging effects of nicotine, still exists. Data will lead to development of innovative interventions to decrease ENDS use in high schoolers.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_spring2020/1089/thumbnail.jp

Scientific issues related to the cytology proficiency testing regulations

The member organizations of the Cytology Education and Technology Consortium believe there are significant flaws in current cytology proficiency testing regulations. The most immediate needed modifications include lengthening the required testing interval, utilizing stringently validated and continuously monitored slides, changing the grading scheme, and changing the focus of the test from the individual to laboratory level testing. Integration of new computer-assisted and located-guided screening technologies into the testing protocols is necessary for the testing protocol to be compliant with the law

Conventional liquid-based techniques versus Cytyc Thinprep(® )processing of urinary samples: a qualitative approach

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to objectively compare Cytyc Thinprep(® )and other methods of obtaining thin layer cytologic preparations (cytocentrifugation, direct smearing and Millipore(® )filtration) in urine cytopathology. METHODS: Thinprep slides were compared to direct smears in 79 cases. Cytocentrifugation carried out with the Thermo Shandon Cytospin(® )4 was compared to Thinprep in 106 cases, and comparison with Millipore filtration followed by blotting was obtained in 22 cases. Quality was assessed by scoring cellularity, fixation, red blood cells, leukocytes and nuclear abnormalities. RESULTS: The data show that 1) smearing allows good overall results to be obtained, 2) Cytocentrifugation with reusable TPX(® )chambers should be avoided, 3) Cytocentrifugation using disposable chambers (Cytofunnels(® )or Megafunnel(® )chambers) gives excellent results equalling or surpassing Thinprep and 4) Millipore filtration should be avoided, owing to its poor global quality. Despite differences in quality, the techniques studied have no impact on the diagnostic accuracy as evaluated by the rate of abnormalities. CONCLUSION: We conclude that conventional methods such as cytocentrifugation remain the most appropriate ones for current treatment of urinary samples. Cytyc Thinprep processing, owing to its cost, could be used essentially for cytology-based molecular studies

Diagnosis of melanoma aspirates on ThinPrep®: The University of Michigan experience

The purpose of this study was to compare the cytologic features of melanoma fine-needle aspirates (FNAs) prepared by ThinPrep® (TP) with those in conventional smears (CS) and to identify any diagnostic pitfalls. Fifty-one aspirates diagnosed as melanoma were obtained, 36 of which were prepared by both TP and CS. The preparations were evaluated for cellularity, cell aggregates, cellular appearance, melanin pigment, cytoplasmic, and nuclear features. Categorical data were analyzed by the chi-square test and continuous data by the Wilcoxin-signed rank test. Correlation was determined by Spearman's test for bivariate correlations (rho). Good correlation between the two methods was identified for the following features: cellularity, cell type, bi/multinucleated cells, cytoplasmic features, NC ratio, and presence of macronucleoli. TP exhibits coarser chromatin compared to CS ( P = 0.005). Six of 36 CS contained large cellular groups; none of the TP contained them ( P = 0.018). Twenty-five of 36 CS contained intranuclear inclusions as opposed to 12/36 TP ( P < 0.001). The number of inclusions was significantly reduced on TP. The amount of intracellular melanin was the same with both techniques. Background melanin was markedly reduced on TP except when either trapped by fibrin or attached to cellular clusters ( P = 0.006). Background blood was also markedly reduced on TP ( P < 0.005). In summary, the cytological features of TP and CS for FNA evaluation of melanoma correlate well; however, one needs to be aware of the cytologic alterations introduced by TP. TP is a sufficient preparation method in the diagnosis of melanoma FNA aspirates when performed by clinicians. It is also a useful adjunct in bloody or low-cellular aspirates, where it tends to reduce the background blood and concentrate the cells. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2002;26:334–339. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/35310/1/10099_ftp.pd

Prebiotic effects of olive pomace powders in the gut: In vitro evaluation of the inhibition of adhesion of pathogens, prebiotic and antioxidant effects

Supplementary data related to this article can be found at https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2020.106312Olive pomace is a biowaste rich in polyphenols and insoluble dietary fibre with high potential to develop new value chains towards a sustainable and circular bioeconomy. Regarding gut health, olive pomace phenolics and insoluble dietary fibre (after possible fermentation) could act as antioxidants, antimicrobial and prebiotic agents. These potential beneficial effects on the gut were analysed for two powders from olive pomace: liquid-enriched powder (LOPP) - mostly source of phenolics - and pulp-enriched powder (POPP) - main source of insoluble dietary fibre. LOPP and POPP were subjected to an in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion followed by in vitro faecal fermentation. The undigested fraction retained in the colon was analysed regarding its potential antioxidant, antimicrobial and prebiotic effects. LOPP and POPP did not impact the gut microbiota diversity negatively, showing a similar ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes compared to a positive control (FOS). LOPP exhibit a positive (similar to FOS) effect on the Prevotella spp./Bacteroides spp. ratio. Both powders also promoted more the production of short-chain fatty acids (mainly acetate?>?butyrate?>?propionate) than FOS. Both powders showed also significant total phenolic content and oxygen radical absorbance capacity during faecal fermentation until 48?h. Besides that, these powders showed mucin-adhesion inhibition ability against pathogens, principally POPP against Bacillus cereus (22.03?±?2.45%) and Listeria monocytogenes (20.01?±?1.93%). This study demonstrates that olive pomace powders have prebiotic effects on microbiota, including the stimulation of short-chain fatty acids production, potential antioxidant and antimicrobial activity which could improve human gut health.Tˆania I. B. Ribeiro thanks the FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Portugal and Association BLC3 – Technology and Innovation Campus, Centre Bio R&D Unit for the PhD Grant SFRH/BDE/108271/2015. This work was supported by National Funds from FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal through the project MULTI-BIOREFINERY - SAICTPAC/0040/2015 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER- 016403). We would also like to thank the scientific collaboration under the FCT project UID/Multi/50016/2019.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio