Regional variation in mandibular morphology in the prehistoric Japanese populations of the Jōmon and Okhotsk

Thesis (M.A.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2012Examination of 11 metric mandibular traits was conducted on data collected from several Jōmon and Okhotsk sites for the purpose of analyzing potential impacts of dietary differences on mandibular morphology for these groups. Based on the dietary history of the populations and their respective regions, Middle Jōmon (5,000 - 3,000 BP) sites would share comparable robusticities across all regions based on social and economic continuity as a stable climate resulted in abundant dietary resources which fostered a growth in population in the Japanese islands of Honshu and Hokkaido. As the climate cooled in the Late/Final Jōmon (4,000 - 2,000 BP), the population of the two islands crashed coinciding with reduced carrying capacity of the environment due to a reduction in available food resources. Late/Final Jōmon were expected to show mandibular reduction in the Honshu interior which had engaged in plant cultivation and emergent agriculture as opposed to populations on the Hokkaido and Honshu coast which engaged in marine subsistence. The success of agriculture resulted in an expansion across Honshu, pushing marine subsistence communities northeastward to Hokkaido where the tradition persisted as the Epi-Jōmon until the arrival of immigrant populations of the Okhotsk (1,000-600 BP). The Epi-Jōmon and Okhotsk would share comparable robuticities based on their shared practice of marine subsistence. The Late/Final Jōmon and Epi-Jōmon/Okhotsk hypothesis were not supported citing the presence of more diversified and complex subsistence practices than was initially anticipated.1. Introduction -- 2. Biomechanics -- 2.1. Mastication and plasticity -- 2.2. Biomechanical mandibular microevolution -- 3. Theory : human behavioral ecology -- 4. Biocultural context of the Jōmon, Epi-Jōmon, and Okhotsk -- 4.1. Jōmon -- 4.2. Epi-Jōmon and Okhotsk -- 5. Materials -- 6. Methods -- 7. Results -- 8. Discussion -- 8.1. Middle Jōmon -- 8.2. Late/final Jōmon -- 8.3. Epi-Jōmon and Okhotsk -- 9. Conclusion -- Literature cited -- Appendix

Resilience, Acculturative Stress, and Family Norms Against Disclosure of Mental Health Problems Among Foreign-Born Filipino American Women

The present study explores the relationships between resilience, acculturative stress, and family norms against disclosure of mental health problems among foreign-born Filipino American women. The sample consisted of 159 foreign-born Filipino American women aged 18 years and above and residing in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Participants completed paper-and-pencil questionnaires. Results indicated high levels of resilience and moderate levels of acculturative stress. Findings also showed a significant negative correlation between resilience and acculturative stress, and a significant predictive effect of resilience on acculturative stress. We also found a significant negative relationship between resilience and family norms against disclosure of mental health problems but no significant mediating effect of resilience on the relationship between acculturative stress and family norms. This lack of significant findings related to the mediating effect of resilience on the relationship between acculturative stress and family norms against disclosure of mental illness may be due to the absence of theoretical models and research regarding the role of resilience in the context of acculturation among Filipino American women. Our findings imply the need to further explore underlying mechanisms that explain the relationships between resilience, acculturative stress, and family norms. The findings of the study also confirm the need to develop interventions and resources that ameliorate acculturative stress and promote an increase of the disclosure and reporting of mental health problems among Filipino American women

Exploring Challenges in Conducting E-Mental Health Research Among Asian American Women

In this discussion paper, we explore the challenges of conducting e-mental health intervention research among Asian American women and propose a model for addressing these barriers. Based on an extensive literature review, we identify two main types of barriers to conducting e-mental health intervention research among Asian American women: recruitment barriers and adherence barriers. Recruitment barriers are further subcategorized into those related to (1) stigmatized cultural beliefs about mental illness and mental health services; (2) lack of awareness about mental health services; and (3) language barrier. As to adherence barriers, the two identified subtypes concern (1) acuity and severity of mental health condition; and (2) lack of time. In order to enhance recruitment and adherence in e-mental health intervention research among the studied population, we formulate the following three main research strategies, namely: (1) considering the cultural and social contexts of Asian American women in the development of e-mental health interventions; (2) determining appropriate program length; and (3) conducting feasibility studies to test e-mental health interventions. We suggest that nurse researchers integrate our proposed model in conducting e-mental health interventions among Asian American women. Our proposed model also implies that nurses play an important role in encouraging Asian American women’s acceptance of and adherence to e-mental health interventions. In order to overcome the obstacles to conducting e-mental health research among Asian American women, we recommend that nurses familiarize themselves with credible, relevant, and evidence-based e-mental health resources and integrate online mental health services and information within their nursing practice

Applying an Infomation Literacy Rubric to First-Year Health Sciences Student Research Posters

Objective: This article describes the collection and analysis of annotated bibliographies created by first-year health sciences students to support their final poster projects. The authors examined the students’ abilities to select relevant and authoritative sources, summarize the content of those sources, and correctly cite those sources. Methods: We collected images of 1,253 posters, of which 120 were sampled for analysis, and scored the posters using a 4-point rubric to evaluate students’ information literacy skills. Results: We found that 52% of students were proficient at selecting relevant sources that directly contributed to the theme, topic, or debate presented in their final poster projects, and 64% of students did well with selecting authoritative peer-reviewed scholarly sources related to their topic. However, 45% of students showed difficulty in correctly applying American Psychological Association (APA) citation style. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate a need for instructors and librarians to provide strategies for reading and comprehending scholarly articles in addition to properly using APA citation style

Exploring Pain Management Among Asian Immigrants with Chronic Pain: Self-Management and Resilience

Asians immigrants (AIs) are one of the fastest growing racial groups in many countries globally. Despite pain prevalence, studies on chronic pain management among AIs is limited in the literature. An integrative review was conducted exploring the current state of science on chronic pain management among AIs. Several databases were used to identify related articles and 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. Two major themes emerged: (a) self-management, pertaining to how AIs take responsibility for their pain, and (b) resilience, their adaptive behaviors indicating low levels of pain-related dysfunction and burden despite chronic pain severity. Resilience plays a significant role in the mechanism by which self-management works in pain among AIs. Chronic pain management is a complex process where challenges to effective treatments exist. Findings have significant implications to healthcare providers and the general pain population. Future research directions include the necessity for increased participation of AIs in studies

Molecular Characterization of the Predominant Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 Virus in Mexico, December 2011–February 2012

<div><p>When the A(H1N1)pdm09 pandemic influenza virus moved into the post-pandemic period, there was a worldwide predominance of the seasonal influenza A(H3N2) and B viruses. However, A(H1N1)pdm09 became the prevailing subtype in the 2011–2012 influenza season in Mexico and most of Central America. During this season, we collected nasopharyngeal swabs of individuals presenting with influenza-like illness at our institution in Mexico City. Samples were tested for seasonal A(H3N2) and B influenza viruses, as well as A(H1N1)pdm09 by real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. Of 205 samples tested, 46% were positive to influenza, all of them A(H1N1)pdm09. The clinical characteristics of patients showed a similar pattern to the 2009 pandemic cases. Using next generation sequencing, we obtained whole genome sequences of viruses from 4 different patients, and in 8 additional viruses we performed partial Sanger sequencing of the HA segment. Non-synonymous changes found in the Mexican isolates with respect to the prototype isolate H1N1 (A/California/04/2009) included HA S69T, K163R and N260D unique to 2012 Mexican and North American isolates and located within or adjacent to HA antigenic sites; HA S143G, S185T, A197T and S203T previously reported in viruses from the 2010–2011 season, located within or adjacent to HA antigenic sites; and HA E374K located in a relevant site for membrane fusion. All Mexican isolates had an oseltamivir-sensitive genotype. Phylogenetic analysis with all 8 influenza gene segments showed that 2012 Mexican sequences formed a robust, distinct cluster. In all cases, 2012 Mexican sequences tended to group with 2010–2011 Asian and European sequences, but not with 2009 Mexican sequences, suggesting a possible recent common ancestor between these latter regions and the 2012 Mexican viruses. It remains to be defined if these viral changes represent an important antigenic drift that would enable viral immune evasion and/or affect influenza vaccine effectiveness.</p> </div

Genetic distances between Mexican 2012 isolates and viruses from all over the world.

<p>On the right side of the plot the average distance between the Mexican 2012 sequences and the sequences included for each geographical transmission zone <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0050116#pone.0050116-WHO3" target="_blank">[13]</a> in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0050116#pone-0050116-g003" target="_blank">Figure 3</a> is shown, for each influenza gene segment. On the left a histogram is shown with the distribution of the 20 closest sequences to the Mexican 2012 cluster for each viral segment. The four 2012 Mexican viruses sequenced by NGS are considered. A single virus from Central America and Caribbean and one from Central Asia were omitted from the distance graphs. SEA, South Eastern Asia; SWE, South Eastern Europe; EE, Eastern Europe; CA, Central Asia; OCP, Oceania, Micronesia and Polynesia; NA, North America; SA, Tempered South America; MX09, Mexican sequences from 2009 to 2011.</p

Maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic trees for the 8 influenza genetic segments.

<p>ML trees from 136 to 162 A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses registered in GenBank were produced with 1,000 bootstrap replicates, for the indicated genetic segments as explained in the Methods section. The four 2012 Mexican fully sequenced by next generation sequencing are included. Red dots at nodes show branches with >50% bootstrap support leading to the 2012 sequences described in this work. Branches are colored according to WHO influenza transmission zones <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0050116#pone.0050116-WHO3" target="_blank">[13]</a>.</p

Baseline clinical data of the study population.

a<p>Patients presenting with influenza-like illness (ILI), A(H1N1)pdm2009 influenza virus not detected.</p>b<p>Patients presenting with ILI, A(H1N1)pdm2009 influenza virus detected.</p>c<p>Chi-square test.</p>d<p>9 patients, 4 confirmed and 5 suspect cases ignored vaccination status. Vaccinated cases confirmed by medical records.</p

Amino acid substitutions in the HA antigenic sites of the 2012 influenza A H1N1 Mexican isolates.

<p>Amino acid sequences are shown for the HA antigenic region of the four fully sequenced 2012 Mexican isolates (MX2012a-d, GenBank accession numbers JQ714072–JQ714075 respectively), the reference California 2009 isolate (CA2009, accession number CY054707) and a reference 2009 Mexican isolate (MX2009, accession number GQ402189). Amino acid positions are numbered without considering the HA signal peptide. Amino acid substitutions in the 2012 Mexican isolates are marked in red. Antigenic sites are shaded: Sa – purple, Sb – yellow, Ca – green, Cb – blue. Substitutions S69T, S143G, K163R, S185T, S203T and A197T are shown to be within or adjacent to antigenic sites.</p