Perceptions of Health Practices and Interactions with the US Healthcare System among Bhutanese Refugees: A Qualitative Approach

Purpose The aim of this pilot study was to explore health practices of Bhutanese refugees and their interactions with the US healthcare system and providers. Methodology Researchers conducted 12 in-depth interviews and 7 patient-provider observation units as part of this descriptive qualitative study. Results Participants identified individual definitions of health and behaviors they value to maintain health. They identified significant trust and faith in their healthcare provider and valued provider-directed suggestions. Participants cited concerns with patient-provider communication resulting from limited English proficiency and frequent changes in primary care providers. Discussion This study is useful to inform further research and potential interventions aimed at improving health outcomes in Bhutanese refugees

A phenetic study on Aconitum ×hebegynum DC. (Ranunculaceae) in the Eastern Carpathians

The aim of the study was to re-evaluate the taxon limits of the putative hybrid A. ×hebegynum (A. degenii × A. variegatum). The nothospecies was described on the specimen originated from a region of the Swiss Alps. Its occurrence in the Eastern Carpathians is controversial since one of the putative parents A. variegatum is extremely rare there. A phenetic analysis using quantitative and qualitative floral and leaf morphology characters in 159 herbarium specimens (OTUs) of Aconitum sect. Aconitum ser. Variegata (A. variegatum), ser. Toxicum (A. degenii and A. lasiocarpum and putative hybrid A. ×gayeri) and nser. Toxigata (A. ×hebegynum) from the Eastern Carpathians was carried out. The analyses included Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA), Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA), Monte Carlo permutation tests, and description statistics. This confirmed the intermediate position of the nothospecies in a morphospace delimited by the putative parents. One of the morphotypes showed introgression towards species of the ser. Toxicum. The other, relatively rare morphotype , was similar to that occurring in the Alps. The Helmet Index of the nothotaxon was exactly between the values found for the putative parents. The findings did not directly point to the existence of the genetic hybrid in the Eastern Carpathians; more molecular DNA and cytogenetic data are needed. They pointed to the existence of distinct morphotypes which, in the case of the rejection of the hypothesis of nothotaxon existence in the region, should be circumscribed in a low-rank taxon within A. degenii

Nimbus 7 Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS). Level 2 data product users' guide

The coastal zone color scanner (CZCS) is a scanning multispectral radiometer designed for the remote sensing of ocean color parameters from an earth orbiting space platform. A Technical Manual was designed for users of NIMBUS 7 CZCS Level 2 data products. It contains information which describes how the Level 1 data was process to obtain the Level 2 (derived) product. It contains information needed to operate on the data using digital computers and related equipment

Nimbus 7 Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS). Level 1 data product users' guide

The coastal zone color scanner (CZCS) is a scanning multispectral radiometer designed specifically for the remote sensing of Ocean Color parameters from an Earth orbiting space platform. A technical manual which is intended for users of NIMBUS 7 CZCS Level 1 data products is presented. It contains information needed by investigators and data processing personnel to operate on the data using digital computers and related equipment

Providing for the Medical and Social Needs of Newly Resettled Refugees in Philadelphia

According to Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) data,Pennsylvania received 2,155 refugees during the 2009 fiscalyear.1 The primary countries of origin of these refugees wereBurma, Bhutan, and Iraq. The number of refugees whoresettled to Philadelphia County in 2009 totaled 597 persons.The nationalities of the refugees who resettled to PhiladelphiaCounty are representative of state statistics

Nanostructure phase and interface engineering via controlled Au self-assembly on GaAs(001) surface

We have investigated the temperature-dependent morphology and composition changes occurring during a controlled self-assembling of thin Au film on the Gallium arsenide (001) surface utilizing electron microscopy at nano and atomic levels. It has been found that the deposition of 2 ML of Au at a substrate temperature lower than 798 K leads to the formation of pure Au nanoislands. For the deposition at a substrate temperature of about 798 K the nanostructures of the stoichiometric AuGa phase were/had been grown. Gold deposition at higher substrate temperatures results in the formation of octagonal nanostructures composed of an AuGa2 alloy. We have proved that the temperature-controlled efficiency of Au-induced etching-like of the GaAs substrate follows in a layer-by-layer manner leading to the enrichment of the substrate surface in gallium. The excess Ga together with Au forms liquid droplets which, while cooling the sample to room temperature, crystallize therein developing crystalline nanostructures of atomically-sharp interfaces with the substrate. The minimal stable cluster of 3 atoms and the activation energy for the surface diffusion Ed=0.816+-0.038eV was determined. We show that by changing the temperature of the self-assembling process one can control the phase, interface and the size of the nanostructures formed

The influence of microinjection parameters on cell survival and procedure efficiency

Microinjection is a method commonly used to deliver various substances into cells. The procedure is performed on a widefield microscope stage using fine glass needle to penetrate the cell membrane. Microinjection can be carried out using a manual or semi-automatic mode. For commercially available equipment currently reported microinjection success rate and cell viability are relatively low (around 50% for both indicators). Here, for the first time, we systematically show how the microinjection effectiveness and cell viability are influenced by needle diameter and chosen microinjection mode. We found that manual mode entailed a higher injection rate, reducing cell viability at the same time. The reduction in needle diameter caused a significant increase in cell survival rate (from 43 to 73% for manual mode and from 58% to 86% for semi-automatic mode) and did not affect significantly the success rate. Our findings will help optimize this method in the context of cell biology research

The Influence of a Laboratory Testing Method on the Index of Density of Sand

Abstract -The paper presents the problem of evaluation of the index of density for sand by various laboratory methods. The parameter is well-suited for describing the state of coarse-grained soils (sand and gravel) because it is dimensionless and normalized. It takes values between 0÷1. The index of density may be defined by maximum, minimum and apparent dry density, values of which should be evaluated in laboratory tests. Because of its definition, the parameter is very sensitive to measurement errors of dry density values. Even inconsiderable values of errors affect significantly the index of density. To estimate this sensitivity, a series of tests was performed. The tested material was classified as sub-angular, even-grade, medium quartz sand. Its maximum dry density was determined with the use of: Tapping Fork, Vibrating Table, Vibrating Hammer, Standard Proctor and Modified Proctor methods. The minimum values of dry density were determined with the use of Funnel method (spout diameter 10 mm and 12.5 mm) and Inverting Cylinder -Kolbuszewski method. The total numbers of 35 maximum and 26 minimum dry density tests were performed. The tests results revealed significant differences in the values of the index of density evaluated by various standard methods. It may result in misunderstandings. Despite the same definition, values received by various national standard procedures differ so much that it is difficult to regard it as one parameter. The fact that engineers refer to this parameter with the same name, may lead to even greater confusion. The authors suggest that additional notation should be introduced in the symbol to clarify the methodology used