8,397 research outputs found
Healthcare Reform in Latino Rhode Island: Perspectives of Spanish speakers and Insurance Navigators
Latinos have the highest uninsurance rates of any ethnic or racial group in the US despite recent health insurance expansion reform. In addition to immigration and language barriers, health literacy and attitudes may impact coverage disparities. Focus groups with Spanish-speaking community members and semi-structured interviews with health insurance navigators were conducted to explore knowledge, awareness, and attitudes towards healthcare reform among Latinos in Rhode Island. Sessions were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed employing standard qualitative methods. Thirty-two focus group participants and six navigators were enrolled in the study. Spanish-speaking participants demonstrated limited knowledge of the cost implications of the Medicaid Expansion and of the role of health insurance exchanges. Common misconceptions included that insurance costs would increase regardless of income, that enrollment would compromise green card and citizenship applications, that documented non-permanent residents would be ineligible for subsidies, and that reform benefits would apply to undocumented workers. Our findings suggest that local initiatives and providers should target Latinos in a culturally sensitive manner to increase literacy regarding insurance eligibility, affordability, points of access as well as to address misconceptions related to insurance eligibility for documented immigrants
A four year longitudinal sero-epidemiological study of bovine herpesvirus type-1 (BHV-1) in adult cattle in 107 unvaccinated herds in south west England
Background: Bovine herpesvirus type-1 (BHV-1) is an important pathogen of cattle that presents with a
variety of clinical signs, including the upper respiratory tract infection infectious bovine rhinotracheitis
(IBR). A seroepidemiological study of BHV-1 antibodies was conducted in England from 2002 – 2004: 29,782 blood samples were taken from 15,736 cattle from 114 herds which were visited on up to three occasions. Antibody concentration was measured using a commercial ELISA. Farm management
information was collected using an interview questionnaire, and herd size and cattle movements were obtained from the cattle tuberculosis testing database and the British Cattle Movement Service. Hierarchical statistical models were used to investigate associations between cattle and herd variables and the continuous outcome percentage positive (PP) values from the ELISA test in unvaccinated herds.
Results: There were 7 vaccinated herds, all with at least one seropositive bovine. In unvaccinated herds 83.2% had at least one BHV-1 seropositive bovine, and the mean cattle and herd BHV-1 seroprevalence were 42.5% and 43.1% respectively. There were positive associations between PP value, age, herd size, presence of dairy cattle. Adult cattle in herds with grower cattle had lower PP values than those in herds without grower cattle. Purchased cattle had significantly lower PP values than homebred cattle, whereas
cattle in herds that were totally restocked after the foot-and-mouth epidemic in 2001 had significantly higher PP values than those in continuously stocked herds. Samples taken in spring and summer had significantly lower PP values than those taken in winter, whereas those taken in autumn had significantly higher PP values than those taken in winter. The risks estimated from a logistic regression model with a binary outcome (seropositive yes/no) were similar.
Conclusion: The prevalence of BHV-1 seropositivity in cattle and herds has increased since the 1970s.
Although the study population prevalence of BHV-1 was temporally stable during study period, the
associations between serological status and cattle age, herd size, herd type, presence of young stock and
restocked versus continuously stocked herds indicate that there is heterogeneity between herds and so
potential for further spread of BHV-1 within and between herds
A four year longitudinal sero-epidemiology study of Neospora caninum in adult cattle from 114 cattle herds in south west England : associations with age, herd and dam-offspring pairs
Background: Neosporosis caused by the protozoan parasite Neospora caninum, is an economically
important cause of abortion, stillbirth, low milk yield, reduced weight gain and premature culling in
cattle. Consequently, a seroepidemiological study of N. caninum antibodies was conducted in
England with 29,782 samples of blood taken from 15,736 cattle from 114 herds visited on three
occasions at yearly intervals. Herds were categorised into lower (< 10%) and higher (≥ 10%)
median herd seroprevalence. Hierarchical models were run to investigate associations between the
sample to positive (S/P) ratio and herd and cattle factors.
Results: Ninety-four percent of herds had at least one seropositive cow; 12.9% of adult cattle had
at least one seropositive test. Approximately 90% of herds were seropositive at all visits; 9 herds
(8%) changed serological status between visits. The median N. caninum seroprevalence in positive
herds was 10% (range 0.4% to 58.8%). There was a positive association between the serostatus of
offspring and dams that were ever seropositive. In the hierarchical model of low seroprevalence
herds there was no significant association between S/P ratio and cattle age. There was a significantly
lower S/P ratio in cattle in herds that were totally restocked after the foot-and-mouth epidemic of
2001 compared with those from continuously stocked herds and cattle purchased into these herds
had a higher S/P ratio than homebred cattle. In the model of high seroprevalence herds the S/P ratio
increased with cattle age, but was not associated with restocking or cattle origin.
Conclusion: There were no strong temporal changes in herd seroprevalence of N. caninum but
90% of herds had some seropositive cattle over this time period. Vertical transmission from
seropositive dams appeared to occur in all herds. In herds with a high seroprevalence the increasing
S/P ratio in 2–4 year old cattle is suggestive of exposure to N. caninum: horizontal transmission
between adult cattle, infection from a local source or recrudescence and abortions. Between-herd
movements of infected cattle enhance the spread of N. caninum, particularly into low
seroprevalence herds. Some restocked herds had little exposure to N. caninum, while in others
infection had spread in the time since restocking
Dos analogÃas en la enseñanza del concepto de modelo cientÃfico: Análisis de las observaciones de clase
Enseñar sobre la naturaleza de los modelos cientÃficos, como parte de la naturaleza de las ciencias, es un objetivo prioritario reconocido en la enseñanza. El propósito de este trabajo es verificar la eficacia de una propuesta didáctica basada en el uso de analogÃas para comprender el concepto de modelo cientÃfico. Se presenta el diseño de investigación llevado adelante con alumnos futuros maestros que incluye el empleo de dos analogÃas: la caja negra y los mapas. Ambas analogÃas fueron enriquecidas con respecto a lo que se encuentra desarrollado en la bibliografÃa. En este trabajo se muestran los aprendizajes de los alumnos, en términos cualitativos, analizados a partir de observaciones de clase y de un informe de autoevaluación. Se comprobó que esta propuesta constituyó un avance en la comprensión del concepto de modelo y modelado en ciencias asà como también de la naturaleza de las analogÃas como recurso pedagógico
HST and Spitzer point source detection and optical extinction in powerful narrow-line radio galaxies
We present the analysis of infrared HST and Spitzer data for a sample of 13
FRII radio galaxies at 0.03<z<0.11 that are classified as narrow-line radio
galaxies (NLRG). In the context of the unified schemes for active galactic
nuclei (AGN), our direct view of the AGN in NLRG is impeded by a parsec-scale
dusty torus structure. Our high resolution infrared observations provide new
information about the degree of extinction induced by the torus, and the
incidence of obscured AGN in NLRG.
We find that the point-like nucleus detection rate increases from 25 per cent
at 1.025m, to 80 per cent at 2.05m, and to 100 per cent at 8.0m.
This supports the idea that most NLRG host an obscured AGN in their centre. We
estimate the extinction from the obscuring structures using X-ray, near-IR and
mid-IR data. We find that the optical extinction derived from the 9.7m
silicate absorption feature is consistently lower than the extinction derived
using other techniques. This discrepancy challenges the assumption that all the
mid-infrared emission of NLRG is extinguished by a simple screen of dust at
larger radii. This disagreement can be explained in terms of either weakening
of the silicate absorption feature by (i) thermal mid-IR emission from the
narrow-line region, (ii) non-thermal emission from the base of the radio jets,
or (iii) by direct warm dust emission that leaks through a clumpy torus without
suffering major attenuation.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures, 8 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA
Ley general de aguas, la amenaza que se desechó... por ahora
Texto que celebra con cautela el triunfo ante la clase polÃtica mexicana, tras el intento fallido de mercantilizar el agua. Se exponen las razones por las que el dictamen de la Ley General de Aguas vulneraba el derecho humano al acceso al lÃquido y su saneamiento, y se explica por qué la iniciativa favorecÃa el interés particular para su gestión frente al interés público y social.ITESO, A.C
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