Contraceptive Utilization Among New Exotic Dancers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Female exotic dancers are a population at high risk of unintended pregnancy. The objective of this study is to describe the reproductive health needs and contraceptive utilization of exotic dancers. Methods New exotic dancers (\u3c 6 months dancing) from 26 clubs in Baltimore City/County completed a one-time survey. Results Of 117 participants, 96 (82%) had current contraceptive need. The mean age was 24 years, and 55% were black. Sex work (45%), alcohol use disorder (73%), illicit (44%; e.g., heroin, crack, cocaine), and injection drug use (8%) were common. The majority (66%) reported contraception use in the prior 6 months. Condoms were reported by 46% whereas 45% reported non-barrier methods, most commonly hormonal injection. Consistent condom use was rare (3%), and only 11% used a long-acting reversible method. Conclusions Despite their unique reproductive health vulnerabilities, female exotic dancers have unmet contraceptive needs. Targeted harm reduction strategies are needed to fill this gap

An Educational Intervention for Infusion Center Nurses to Improve Their Confidence in Identification and Management of Immunotherapy Adverse Events, Based on Changes in Pre- and Post-test scores: A Quality Improvement Project

BACKGROUND: Immunotherapy is a treatment that uses the body’s immune system to fight diseases. It is used for the management of many conditions but is mainly utilized in cancer treatment. Immunotherapy has been shown to improve quality of life and increase survival rates in metastatic disease. A major limitation of immunotherapy are the adverse events (AE), or adverse effects, that may cause a delay in treatment, lead to hospitalization, or in extreme cases, mortality. In this study the terms adverse events and adverse effects will be used interchangeably. DESIGN: Pre- and post-test survey design. METHODS: Data was collected from a sample of 23 Infusion Center nurses following an education intervention on identification and management of immunotherapy adverse events, using the Oncology Nurse Immunotherapy Confidence Survey (ONICS) instrument modified for this QI project. RESULTS: The pre- and post-test scores revealed a 39% increase in Infusion Centers nurses’ confidence regarding identification and management of immunotherapy adverse events shown. These findings were established as statically significant (p \u3e 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Novice nurses and experienced nurses new to the Oncology specialty would most benefit from this intervention. Department orientation policies can be reviewed and modified based on the data from this project to improve the quality of patient care

Quantitative genomics of starvation stress resistance in Drosophila

BACKGROUND: A major challenge of modern biology is to understand the networks of interacting genes regulating complex traits, and the subset of these genes that affect naturally occurring quantitative genetic variation. Previously, we used P-element mutagenesis and quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in Drosophila to identify candidate genes affecting resistance to starvation stress, and variation in resistance to starvation stress between the Oregon-R (Ore) and 2b strains. Here, we tested the efficacy of whole-genome transcriptional profiling for identifying genes affecting starvation stress resistance. RESULTS: We evaluated whole-genome transcript abundance for males and females of Ore, 2b, and four recombinant inbred lines derived from them, under control and starved conditions. There were significant differences in transcript abundance between the sexes for nearly 50% of the genome, while the transcriptional response to starvation stress involved approximately 25% of the genome. Nearly 50% of P-element insertions in 160 genes with altered transcript abundance during starvation stress had mutational effects on starvation tolerance. Approximately 5% of the genome exhibited genetic variation in transcript abundance, which was largely attributable to regulation by unlinked genes. Genes exhibiting variation in transcript abundance among lines did not cluster within starvation resistance QTLs, and none of the candidate genes affecting variation in starvation resistance between Ore and 2b exhibited significant differences in transcript abundance between lines. CONCLUSIONS: Expression profiling is a powerful method for identifying networks of pleiotropic genes regulating complex traits, but the relationship between variation in transcript abundance among lines used to map QTLs and genes affecting variation in quantitative traits is complicated

A Cryptic Modifier Causing Transient Self-Incompatibility in Arabidopsis thaliana

SummaryBreakdown of the pollination barrier of self-incompatibility (SI) in older flowers, a phenomenon known as pseudo-self-compatibility or transient SI, has been described as an advantageous reproductive assurance strategy that allows selfing after opportunities for out-crossing have been exhausted [1–9]. Pseudo-self-compatibility is quite prevalent as a mixed mating strategy in nature, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not known. We had previously shown that Arabidopsis thaliana exhibits cryptic natural variation for pseudo-self-compatibility, which is uncovered by transformation of different accessions with SI specificity-determining SRK and SCR genes from its self-incompatible sister species A. lyrata [10, 11]. Here, by using this transgenic A. thaliana model, we show that pseudo-self-compatibility is caused by a hypomorphic allele of PUB8, an S-locus-linked gene encoding a previously uncharacterized ARM repeat- and U box-containing protein that regulates SRK transcript levels. This is the first gene underlying pseudo-self-compatibility to be identified and the first report in which cryptic natural variation unveiled by a transgene enabled the cloning of a gene for a complex trait

Hearing the patient voice: Using video intervention/prevention assessment to understand teens with cystic fibrosis

This qualitative study asked two questions: 1) How do teens with cystic fibrosis (CF) feel about their treatments; and 2) What factors lead teens to adhere, or not adhere, to treatments. To answer these questions we used an innovative approach (Video Intervention/Prevention Assessment or VIA), to learn about the experiences of teens with CF. We loaned video camcorders to teens with CF and asked them to create visual narratives of their lives. Researchers logged and coded videotapes, identifying themes that arose from the material. A primary theme was “Doctors don’t understand.” Participants also highlighted the value of routines and parental support in consistently doing treatments. We identify and discuss themes that emerged and discuss how findings can be used to help providers improve care, develop partnerships with patients and increase adherence

Confirmatory factor analysis of the Child Feeding Questionnaire among low-income African American families of preschool children

This study examined the factor structure for three of the Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ) subscales, a widely used measure of parental feeding practices, among 296 low-income parents of African American preschool children. Confirmatory factor analysis showed an overall poor fit among CFQ subscales; Restriction, Pressure to Eat, and Concern about Child Weight, (χ2, (df = 87 = 300.249, CFI = 1.00, NNFI = 1.07, RMSEA = .091). Additionally, Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients for 2 of the three subscales were below acceptable recommendations (Restriction = 0.69; Pressure to Eat = 0.58). These results suggest further psychometric clarification is needed to understand commonly reported feeding practice constructs among low-income African American mothers of preschool aged children

Summit County conservation inventory: volume I, a natural heritage assessment, 1997 final report

Prepared for: Summit County Open Space and Trails Dept., Summit County Planning Dept.December 1997.Includes bibliographical references

Confirmatory factor analysis of the Child Feeding Questionnaire among low-income African American families of preschool children

This study examined the factor structure for three of the Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ) subscales, a widely used measure of parental feeding practices, among 296 low-income parents of African American preschool children. Confirmatory factor analysis showed an overall poor fit among CFQ subscales; Restriction, Pressure to Eat, and Concern about Child Weight, (χ2, (df = 87 = 300.249, CFI = 1.00, NNFI = 1.07, RMSEA = .091). Additionally, Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients for 2 of the three subscales were below acceptable recommendations (Restriction = 0.69; Pressure to Eat = 0.58). These results suggest further psychometric clarification is needed to understand commonly reported feeding practice constructs among low-income African American mothers of preschool aged children

Panel No. 3: Contemporary and Critical Views of Arbitration

Given the pre-emptive effect of the FAA, do state laws of arbitration have any but a subservient function? How do regulatory agencies assess and can their regulations control the FAA? The panelists will explore controversies that are currently taking place in reinsurance arbitration; whether the Supreme Court\u27s invitation in Hall Street Associates to employ different standards of review evidences a skepticism of arbitration that threatens to undercut the uniform edifice of arbitration that the Supreme Court has, to date, constructed; and, finally, whether the New York arbitration convention support or dissent from the substantive rules of the FAA