DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH

Background: Mexican women in the United States (US) have higher rates of fertility compared to other ethnic groups and women in Mexico. Whether variation in women’s access to family planning services or patterns of contraceptive use contributes to this higher fertility has received little attention. Objective: We explore Mexican women’s contraceptive use, taking into account women’s place in the reproductive life course. Methods: Using nationally representative samples from the US (National Survey of Family Growth) and Mexico (Encuesta National de la Dinámica Demográfica), we compared the parity-specific frequency of contraceptive use and fertility intentions for non-migrant women, foreign-born Mexicans in the US, US-born Mexicans, and whites. Results: Mexican women in the US were less likely to use IUDs and more likely to use hormonal contraception than women in Mexico. Female sterilization was the most common method among higher parity women in both the US and Mexico, however, foreign-born Mexicans were less likely to be sterilized, and the least likely to use any permanent contraceptive method. Although foreign-born Mexicans were slightly less likely to report that they did not want more children, differences in method use remained after controlling for women’s fertility intentionsPopulation Research Cente

The slipper lobster, Scyllarides latus, uses apatite and fluorapatite to protect its sensory organules

The cuticle of arthropods has been intensely studied not only to better understand the properties of a natural composite material, but also to understand how structural properties and mineral contributions to this composite offer a durable protective covering from predator and microbial attack. Thus far, most marine cuticular studies have focused on the American lobster, Homarus americanus, or several crab species, but have largely ignored other types of lobsters, such as spiny or slipper lobsters that have exoskeletons differing in both structural properties (i.e., amount of trabeculae present in pits and spines) and resistance to structural failure. Using an electron microprobe, we analyzed various segments of the exoskeleton of the Mediterranean slipper lobster, Scyllarides latus, to determine the mineral content in discrete domains of cuticle. EMP analysis determined that the cuticle of S. latus is similar to that of H. americanus in that it contains carbonate apatite in canal linings and in the areas surrounding sensory organules (setae). The slipper lobster also uses a fluorapatite mineral that further adds strength to the shell. Results will be discussed in the context of what this means for defense against attack and differences in environmental water chemistry and resilience to climate change

Descriptions of the setae on the pereiopods of scyllarid lobsters, Scyllarides aequinoctialis, S. latus, and S. nodifer, with observations on the feeding sequence during consumption of bivalves and gastropods

The morphological and behavioral aspects of slipper lobster feeding have remained largely unexplored. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), the gross morphological structure of all segments of the pereiopods were described for three species of scyllarid lobsters: Scyllarides aequinoctialis, S. latus, and S. nodifer. Five types of setae within three broad categories were found: simple (long and miniature), cuspidate (robust and conate), and teasel (a type of serrulate setae). Setae were arranged in a highly organized, row-like pattern on the ventral and dorsal surfaces. Cuspidate setae were found on all surfaces of all segments. Simple setae were found only on the dactyl, whereas teazel setae were concentrated on the lateral-most edge of the alate carina on the merus in S. aequinoctialis only. Comparisons among species demonstrate that S. nodifer bears the same setae and setal pattern as S. latus, but S. aequinoctialis differs. The setal patterns of slipper lobsters contrast with those of nephropid and palinurid lobsters, likely due to the more rigorous use of the pereiopods in accessing their food. Feeding sequences of S. aequinoctialis on bivalves were videotaped, analyzed as Markovian chains, and showed a complex suite of behaviors involving contact chemoreception by the antennules as part of an initial assessment of food items, followed by mouthpart and leg probing, and eventual wedging behavior as previously described for S. squammosus. Feeding sequences of S. latus on gastropods and bivalves also demonstrate extensive use of the pereiopods (instead of the mouthparts) first to pry these prey items from the substrate and then to remove the foot. Use of antennules for food assessment and recruitment of many of the perieopods for food handling with minimal use of mouthparts also contrasts with the feeding sequences typical of nephropid and palinurid lobsters and may be an important adaptation

Invariance: a Theoretical Approach for Coding Sets of Words Modulo Literal (Anti)Morphisms

Let $A$ be a finite or countable alphabet and let $\theta$ be literal (anti)morphism onto $A^*$ (by definition, such a correspondence is determinated by a permutation of the alphabet). This paper deals with sets which are invariant under $\theta$ ($\theta$-invariant for short).We establish an extension of the famous defect theorem. Moreover, we prove that for the so-called thin $\theta$-invariant codes, maximality and completeness are two equivalent notions. We prove that a similar property holds in the framework of some special families of $\theta$-invariant codes such as prefix (bifix) codes, codes with a finite deciphering delay, uniformly synchronized codes and circular codes. For a special class of involutive antimorphisms, we prove that any regular $\theta$-invariant code may be embedded into a complete one.Comment: To appear in Acts of WORDS 201

Macroeconomic Imbalances in the World Economy

This paper explores the emergence of large current account imbalances in a few large countries, the factors behind the emergence, the role of those imbalances in the financial crisis of 2008-09, and the implications of achieving global balance. Imbalances reflect a country’s net savings and suggest that growth in GDP of a surplus country is partly dependent upon growth in external demand of deficit countries. Although a country can incur a surplus or deficit for ever, we suggest that the increasing surpluses of relatively large and rapidly growing countries is likely to be destabilizing to global growth in the long-run. The adjustment will likely require a surplus country, such as China, to rely more on domestic demand for growth while a deficit country, such as the U.S., may need to rely more on external demand for growth. We suggest the Eurozone imbalances are not directly linked to U.S. imbalances. There are a variety of potential causes of global imbalances including excess savings in surplus countries, the twin deficit hypothesis, the export-led growth hypothesis, and the possible miss-measurement of the U.S. current account due to repatriation of profits from U.S. owned foreign affiliates. However, whatever the combination of causes of the growing imbalances, adjustments need to be made to return to long-terms sustainable growth.International Relations/Trade,

PROGRAM PLANNING IN FAITH-BASED DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS

There is a growing demand for scientific efficiency of faith-based development programs, resulting in the need for well-defined program goals. This study explored the presence of a systematic program planning process, based on the Lifelong Education Program Planning (LEPP) Model by Peter Cookson, which can help faith-based organizations formulate program goals. The influence of organizational structure on the systematic program planning process was also explored. Qualitative telephone interviews were used to interview representatives from six faithbased development organizations. Results from this study indicate that systematic program planning does occur in faith-based development organizations. The LEPP Model effectively models the program planning process, but not all quadrants are used at all times. Furthermore, the organizational structure greatly influences the program planning process. Recommendations were made to develop a common terminology for the program planning process to increase effective communication

Motor Skills and Mental Practice: A Tool for Physical Therapy

The purpose of this Independent Study is to review the literature concerning mental practice and its effects on motor skill performance and retention as important within the field of physical therapy. The study of mental practice as concerned with physical therapy is important as this .modality is not often included in patient treatment programs, despite its potential applications. The content of this paper will consist of. definitions, theoretical explanations, effectiveness of mental practice, and the effects of individual differences on mental practice. The primary research questions were: (1) What is mental practice? (2) How does mental practice work? (3) Does mental practice facilitate motor skill acquisition, performance and retention? (4) Do any differences between individuals affect the results achieved with mental practice? (5) Does mental practice have any application to physical therapy and what can be done to maximize its gains in a physical therapy setting

Adolescent substance use in relation to school-based extracurricular activities according to individual and school-level characteristics

The purpose of this study was to fill gaps in previous literature on adolescent involvement in activities that are school-based in relation adolescent alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and illicit substance use, while taking into account important individual and sociodemographic variables. Research was conducted with 49 12th grade students in two public high school in North Central West Virginia. Data were collected using an internet questionnaire accessible to students on Survey Monkey. The questionnaire consisted of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and illicit drug use questions that were derived directly from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) questions pertaining to students involvement in school-based activities during the past school year. The present study tested three separate hypotheses. The first hypothesis was that higher rates of involvement in extracurricular activities would be associated with lower levels of substance use. The present study found statistically significant negative relationships between involvement in school-based activities and tobacco and alcohol use. The second hypothesis was that males would report higher levels of substance use than females, especially males involved in sports activities. A hierarchical regression analyses showed that the addition of gender and sports involvement into the model did not explain a significant portion of the variance in tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drug use. Finally, the third hypothesis was that adolescents from the lower SES school would have higher rates of substance use than those adolescents from the higher SES school. Three separate mean-level comparisons by school found that students from the lower SES school were not significantly more likely to use cigarettes, alcohol, or illicit drugs than students from the lower SES school. Result findings are discussed in relation to implications of the study, study limitations, and recommendations for future research