Woman-centred ethics: A feminist participatory action research

Background: The maternity system has a complexity of everyday ethical issues. The bioethical principles: non maleficence, beneficence justice and autonomy, that govern health care practice have been criticised as abstract, patriarchal and even rhetorical in maternity care practice (MacLellan, 2014) and consequently may be insufficient in guiding care of childbearing women. Midwifery-led care is guided by the International Confederation of Midwives International Code of Ethics, which considers more than the bioethical principles, such as the importance of relationship. Care ethics is a relational based feminist ethics first described by Gilligan (1983) and has been theorised as an alternate paradigm for midwifery (Newnham & Kirkham, 2019). A paper was published in Nursing Ethics as a result of the literature review; Care ethics framework for midwifery practice: A scoping review and it was determined that care ethics is demonstrated in practice with four domains; Relationship, Context, Caring Practices and Attention to power. In addition, there is limited empirical evidence as to women’s experiences of care from an ethical perspective, and importantly what women describe as ethical, revealing a gap in the literature that has yet to be explored. Objective: The aim of the study reported in this thesis was to investigate women’s experience of maternity care from an ethical perspective and to determine whether a care ethics paradigm would better suit midwifery. Methods: The transformative research was undertaken using Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR). FPAR is a feminist and transformative research design, which includes participants as central to research design. Purposive sampling was used to recruit women who had experienced midwifery-led care. Nine women formed the Community action research group (CARG), they worked with me over three years, guided the research and planned action. The CARG participated in five focus groups, for data collection and organising action toward the changes they wished to see. Their involvement in the research included: defining the research problem, creating a priori codes for analysis, reviewing analysis, disseminating findings and provided recommendations for policy change. A paper was published in Woman and Birth: Navigating midwifery solidarity: A feminist participatory action research framework, describing some of the finer points of FPAR including a framework for novice researchers. In phase two a further ten women who had had midwifery-led care were involved in this study and interviewed about their experiences of ethical maternity care. Data were collected from September 2019 to April 2022 via five focus group interviews and ten one-on-one semi-structured interviews. The interviews were recorded, and transcribed, and template and Reflexive thematic analysis was applied (Braun & Clark, 2021). Findings: The findings in this study were presented in two parts. The first phase of the study revealed midwifery-led care demonstrated care ethics in practice. The Community Action Research Group (CARG) created a priori codes and a template analysis determined that midwifery models of care demonstrate care ethics. A paper of these findings was published in Nursing Ethics; Does midwifery-led care demonstrate care ethics? A template analysis. In the second phase of the study, the data corpus was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis and the primary theme, Radical desires: Individuals’ values and context, captures the woman at the centre of the care, her values and context, as central to understanding ethics. The quality of the relationship, the knowledge that was shared, and the manner of the care given were deemed important elements of ethical care. I assigned categories Woman-centred ethics or Authoritarian ethics to describe these elements of ethical or unethical aspects of care. Woman-centred ethics contains the subcategories of: harmonised relationship, transparent wisdom, and midwifery solidarity. The category Authoritarian ethics contains the subcategories of: uneasy alliance, opaque information, and saving women from themselves. How the woman experienced these categories affected the liminality and sense of self, and are described in subthemes, Claiming power and Surrendered power. Discussion: The themes were explained, discussed, and contrasted against the extant literature in the discussion. Pregnancy and birth as a transformative rite of passage was valued by the women in this study and they perceived care as more ethical when the care providers respected this. Authoritarian ethics, when viewed with a feminist and care ethics lens highlighted continued female oppression from the maternity system structures and culture. A conceptual model, Woman-centred ethics, was developed based on midwifery philosophy and feminist care ethics, which may help midwives embody a different kind of ethics and provides a way to enhanced ethical practice. A paper was published that shared the conceptual model in Midwifery Journal: Woman-centred ethics: A feminist participatory action research. Conclusion: This study has contributed to the body of knowledge that describes how women perceive ethics in maternity, and honours women’s voices as central to ethical care. The study advances midwifery philosophy through exploring midwifery ethics and offers a conceptual model to guide practice. The woman-centred ethics model describes an embodied way of practicing ethical care and may provide a starting point for moving the field forward in ethical discussion. The CARG group involvement in the research and action together were an important feature of this project. Several recommendations arose from this study for practice, organisational, and educational processes

The Activity Requirements for Spike Timing-Dependent Plasticity in the Hippocampus

Synaptic plasticity has historically been investigated most intensely in the hippocampus and therefore it is somewhat surprising that the majority of studies on spike timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) have focused not in the hippocampus but on synapses in the cortex. One of the major reasons for this bias is the relative ease in obtaining paired electrophysiological recordings from synaptically coupled neurons in cortical slices, in comparison to hippocampal slices. Another less obvious reason has been the difficulty in achieving reliable STDP in the hippocampal slice preparation and confusion surrounding the conditions required. The original descriptions of STDP in the hippocampus was performed on paired recordings from neurons in dissociated or slice cultures utilizing single pairs of presynaptic and postsynaptic spikes and were subsequently replicated in acute hippocampal slices. Further work in several laboratories using conditions that more closely replicate the situation in vivo revealed a requirement for multiple postsynaptic spikes that necessarily complicate the absolute timing rules for STDP. Here we review the hippocampal STDP literature focusing on data from acute hippocampal slice preparations and highlighting apparently contradictory results and the variations in experimental conditions that might account for the discrepancies. We conclude by relating the majority of the available experimental data to a model for STDP induction in the hippocampus based on a critical role for postsynaptic Ca2+ dynamics

Transforming the Archival Classroom for a Connected Reality

The Archival / Preservation Education SIG panel engages with interconnected external pressures and curricular goals in the archival classroom. Four moderated presentations focus on innovative classroom pedagogy, including modeling and visualizing collection data, the digital and physical interconnectedness of digitization activities in pre-professional training, and practical experience and deliverables with unique archival collections; presenters bring perspectives from three states and two countries. “Inclusive Collection Visualization and Arrangement” by Sarah Buchanan discusses the data practice of visualization as a creative response to archival arrangement and metrics for aggregating collection attributes. “Paradigm Shift in LIS Education from Digital Revolution to a Cyber-Physical System” by Najim Babalola examines how emerging and immersive information and communication technologies (ICT) such as digitization are changing service deliveries, with a view to preparing prospective professionals in Nigeria with knowledge and critical skills. “Closing Doors Opens Others: Exploring Pedagogical Opportunities through Temporary Custody of Records” by Katherine Wisser, Adam Kriesberg, and Sarah Pratt reviews how faculty, archives staff, and students across levels are processing and learning with the American Textile History Museum records, before eventual transfer to UMass Lowell. “Education to Support Language Data Archives and Preservation: Experiential Learning and Community Collaboration in the Interdisciplinary Graduate Course at University of North Texas” shares lessons learned in teaching a multi-modal, team-based, and experiential course with South Asian language materials and UNT Digital Collections

Nonparametric Bayesian inference for perturbed and orthologous gene regulatory networks

Motivation: The generation of time series transcriptomic datasets collected under multiple experimental conditions has proven to be a powerful approach for disentangling complex biological processes, allowing for the reverse engineering of gene regulatory networks (GRNs). Most methods for reverse engineering GRNs from multiple datasets assume that each of the time series were generated from networks with identical topology. In this study, we outline a hierarchical, non-parametric Bayesian approach for reverse engineering GRNs using multiple time series that can be applied in a number of novel situations including: (i) where different, but overlapping sets of transcription factors are expected to bind in the different experimental conditions; that is, where switching events could potentially arise under the different treatments and (ii) for inference in evolutionary related species in which orthologous GRNs exist. More generally, the method can be used to identify context-specific regulation by leveraging time series gene expression data alongside methods that can identify putative lists of transcription factors or transcription factor targets. Results: The hierarchical inference outperforms related (but non-hierarchical) approaches when the networks used to generate the data were identical, and performs comparably even when the networks used to generate data were independent. The method was subsequently used alongside yeast one hybrid and microarray time series data to infer potential transcriptional switches in Arabidopsis thaliana response to stress. The results confirm previous biological studies and allow for additional insights into gene regulation under various abiotic stresses. Availability: The methods outlined in this article have been implemented in Matlab and are available on request

Lightning Reporting at 45th Weather Squadron: Recent Improvements

The 45th Weather Squadron (45 WS) provides daily lightning reports to space launch customers at CCAFS/KSC. These reports are provided to assess the need to inspect the electronics of satellite payloads, space launch vehicles, and ground support equipment for induced current damage from nearby lightning strokes. The 45 WS has made several improvements to the lightning reports during 2008-2009. The 4DLSS, implemented in April 2008, provides all lightning strokes as opposed to just one stroke per flash as done by the previous system. The 45 WS discovered that the peak current was being truncated to the nearest kilo amp in the database used to generate the daily lightning reports, which led to an up to 4% underestimate in the peak current for average lightning. This error was corrected and led to elimination of this underestimate. The 45 WS and their mission partners developed lightning location error ellipses for 99% and 95% location accuracies tailored to each individual stroke and began providing them in the spring of 2009. The new procedure provides the distance from the point of interest to the best location of the stroke (the center of the error ellipse) and the distance to the closest edge of the ellipse. This information is now included in the lightning reports, along with the peak current of the stroke. The initial method of calculating the error ellipses could only be used during normal duty hours, i.e. not during nights, weekends, or holidays. This method was improved later to provide lightning reports in near real-time, 24/7. The calculation of the distance to the closest point on the ellipse was also significantly improved later. Other improvements were also implemented. A new method to calculate the probability of any nearby lightning stroke. being within any radius of any point of interest was developed and is being implemented. This may supersede the use of location error ellipses. The 45 WS is pursuing adding data from nine NLDN sensors into 4DLSS in real-time. This will overcome the problem of 4DLSS missing some of the strong local strokes. This will also improve the location accuracy, reduce the size and eccentricity of the location error ellipses, and reduce the probability of nearby strokes being inside the areas of interest when few of the 4DLSS sensors are used in the stroke solution. This will not reduce 4DLSS performance when most of the 4DLSS sensors are used in the stroke solution. Finally, several possible future improvements were discussed, especially for improving the peak current estimate and the error estimate for peak current, and upgrading the 4DLSS. Some possible approaches for both of these goals were discussed

The Effects of Cognitive Training Program for Cognitively Impaired Older Adults: A Pilot Randomized Control Trial

Objective: This pilot investigation evaluated the effectiveness of a cognitive training program for older adults with cognitive impairment.Methods: A sample of 23 individuals were randomly assigned to either a 24-session cognitive training program or a wait-list control group. Cognitive training sessions required participants to complete activities that targeted the following cognitive domains: attention, visual and verbal memory, visual spatial skills, processing speed, executive functioning, and language. A battery of cognitive tests were administered prior to and immediately after completion of the program. Depression, quality of life, agitated behavior, and daily functioning were also assessed.Results: Small to large effect sizes on half of the cognitive outcome measures were observed following participation in the program. No positive effects were found with regard to non-cognitive outcomes.Discussion: These results warrant further investigation into the benefits of this cognitive training program in larger randomized control trials.Clinical Implications: The cognitive training program may provide activity staff in assisted living or memory care settings a highly structured, manualized, and user-friendly intervention for older adults experiencing cognitive decline

High-resolution temporal profiling of transcripts during Arabidopsis leaf senescence reveals a distinct chronology of processes and regulation

Leaf senescence is an essential developmental process that impacts dramatically on crop yields and involves altered regulation of thousands of genes and many metabolic and signaling pathways, resulting in major changes in the leaf. The regulation of senescence is complex, and although senescence regulatory genes have been characterized, there is little information on how these function in the global control of the process. We used microarray analysis to obtain a highresolution time-course profile of gene expression during development of a single leaf over a 3-week period to senescence. A complex experimental design approach and a combination of methods were used to extract high-quality replicated data and to identify differentially expressed genes. The multiple time points enable the use of highly informative clustering to reveal distinct time points at which signaling and metabolic pathways change. Analysis of motif enrichment, as well as comparison of transcription factor (TF) families showing altered expression over the time course, identify clear groups of TFs active at different stages of leaf development and senescence. These data enable connection of metabolic processes, signaling pathways, and specific TF activity, which will underpin the development of network models to elucidate the process of senescence

Metrics of progress in the understanding and management of threats to Australian birds

Although evidence‐based approaches have become commonplace for determining the success of conservation measures for the management of threatened taxa, there are no standard metrics for assessing progress in research or management. We developed 5 metrics to meet this need for threatened taxa and to quantify the need for further action and effective alleviation of threats. These metrics (research need, research achievement, management need, management achievement, and percent threat reduction) can be aggregated to examine trends for an individual taxon or for threats across multiple taxa. We tested the utility of these metrics by applying them to Australian threatened birds, which appears to be the first time that progress in research and management of threats has been assessed for all threatened taxa in a faunal group at a continental scale. Some research has been conducted on nearly three‐quarters of known threats to taxa, and there is a clear understanding of how to alleviate nearly half of the threats with the highest impact. Some management has been attempted on nearly half the threats. Management outcomes ranged from successful trials to complete mitigation of the threat, including for one‐third of high‐impact threats. Progress in both research and management tended to be greater for taxa that were monitored or occurred on oceanic islands. Predation by cats had the highest potential threat score. However, there has been some success reducing the impact of cat predation, so climate change (particularly drought), now poses the greatest threat to Australian threatened birds. Our results demonstrate the potential for the proposed metrics to encapsulate the major trends in research and management of both threats and threatened taxa and provide a basis for international comparisons of evidence‐based conservation science

Risk of colorectal cancer for carriers of mutations in MUTYH, with and without a family history of cancer

We studied 2332 individuals with monoallelic mutations in MUTYH among 9504 relatives of 264 colorectal cancer (CRC) cases with a MUTYH mutation. We estimated CRC risks through 70 years of age of 7.2% for male carriers of monoallelic mutations (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.6%-11.3%) and 5.6% for female carriers of monoallelic mutations (95% CI, 3.6%-8.8%), irrespective of family history. For monoallelic MUTYH mutation carriers with a first-degree relative with CRC diagnosed by 50 years of age who does not have the MUTYH mutation, risks of CRC were 12.5% for men (95% CI, 8.6%-17.7%) and 10% for women (95% CI, 6.7%-14.4%). Risks of CRC for carriers of monoallelic mutations in MUTYH with a first-degree relative with CRC are sufficiently high to warrant more intensive screening than for the general population

Colorectal and other cancer risks for carriers and noncarriers from families with a DNA mismatch repair gene mutation: A Prospective Cohort Study

To determine whether cancer risks for carriers and noncarriers from families with a mismatch repair (MMR) gene mutation are increased above the risks of the general population. We prospectively followed a cohort of 446 unaffected carriers of an MMR gene mutation (MLH1, n = 161; MSH2, n = 222; MSH6, n = 47; and PMS2, n = 16) and 1,029 their unaffected relatives who did not carry a mutation every 5 years at recruitment centers of the Colon Cancer Family Registry. For comparison of cancer risk with the general population, we estimated country-, age-, and sex-specific standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of cancer for carriers and noncarriers. Over a median follow-up of 5 years, mutation carriers had an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC; SIR, 20.48; 95% CI, 11.71 to 33.27; P < .001), endometrial cancer (SIR, 30.62; 95% CI, 11.24 to 66.64; P < .001), ovarian cancer (SIR, 18.81; 95% CI, 3.88 to 54.95; P < .001), renal cancer (SIR, 11.22; 95% CI, 2.31 to 32.79; P < .001), pancreatic cancer (SIR, 10.68; 95% CI, 2.68 to 47.70; P = .001), gastric cancer (SIR, 9.78; 95% CI, 1.18 to 35.30; P = .009), urinary bladder cancer (SIR, 9.51; 95% CI, 1.15 to 34.37; P = .009), and female breast cancer (SIR, 3.95; 95% CI, 1.59 to 8.13; P = .001). We found no evidence of their noncarrier relatives having an increased risk of any cancer, including CRC (SIR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.33 to 2.39; P = .97). We confirmed that carriers of an MMR gene mutation were at increased risk of a wide variety of cancers, including some cancers not previously recognized as being a result of MMR mutations, and found no evidence of an increased risk of cancer for their noncarrier relatives