The mothers’ stories; representations of authenticity, authority, agency and autonomy

This thesis is an exploration of matricentric feminism, an emerging theory of a mother focused feminism that positions mothers and mothering at its centre based upon the scholarly work and definition of Andrea O’Reilly. The thesis considers how embedded within matricentric feminism is empowered mothering which is focused on a woman’s practice of mothering from a position of authenticity, agency, authority and autonomy(O’Reilly, 2016). It sits in the field of Maternal and Motherhood Studies. The purpose of this research was to collect mother focused narratives to understand experiences of mothering from marginalised mothers, explore if they presented the attributes of empowered mothering and to centre lesser-known experiences of mothering. The methodological framework for the research was matricentric autoethnography which enabled the inclusion of my own maternal narrative alongside those of the mothers. My narrative is woven throughout the study and alongside the other stories of mothering each are presented together as layered accounts. Adopting an autoethnographic approach created the opportunity to unite both our life and experiences with theory. By offering the reader our stories we invite her/him to understand marginalised mothers more and in turn to further understand their selves.The research explored aspects of our experiences that have been neglected or overlooked within conventional social science research and revealed findings that conclude marginalised mothers can and do practice as empowered mothers and implement authenticity, agency, authority and autonomy into their mothering. This signifies the importance of exploring mothers and mothering using a mother focused lens. The study makes an important contribution to the portrayal and understanding of mothering in challenging circumstances illustrating the strength and assets asserted in our mothering as well as signifying the value of mother focused autoethnography. In addition, it strengthens the integration of matricentric feminism into academia while illustrating various versions of mothering that move beyond stereotypical identities

Using Photovoice to Understand the Experiences of Life as a Mother in Thetford, Norfolk, England—A Community-Based Participatory Action Research Method Embodying Matricentric Feminism

Using photovoice to demonstrate a matricentric approach with mothers involved in community research illustrates a powerful example of a methodology that aligns with matricentric feminism and exhibits its value. The purpose of this community-based participatory research was to gain insight into the experiences of mothers from lower socioeconomic backgrounds in Thetford, Norfolk, England, where there are pockets of high deprivation. The researcher provided disposable cameras to a group of mothers and asked them to photograph their experiences as well as the issues affecting them as mothers. Once the photographs were developed, the mothers discussed the photographs through unstructured interviews. The results produced sixty-four photographs, and the discussions yielded further stories. There were four main themes discovered upon analysis: crime and safety; housing; appropriate areas for children and environment; and surroundings. The author recommended further research in this locality to acknowledge the strengths and assets mothers demonstrate while mothering and to encourage using a matricentric feminist lens within scholarly work for further policy development and community empowerment

Modeling Second Order Impacts of Healthcare Innovation

Any single health service organization today is likely engaged in dozens of concurrent, often times unrelated change initiatives. Each of these change initiatives is likely supported by evidence that demonstrates the innovation’s intended, first order impact. However, very little attention has been paid to the unintended, second order impacts of innovation. In this dissertation we introduce a model to provide a framework for inquiring about this very type of non-immediate impact. Next, using three innovations currently being implemented in the healthcare industry—training primary care residents to perform in-office colonoscopies, Studer Group’s ‘Evidence Based Leadership,’ and implementation of electronic health records in a hospital-integrated pediatric network—we model the innovations’ second order impacts within the context of our second order impact conceptual model. Cost effectiveness analysis, multiple analysis of variance (MANOVA), and two-level fixed effects modeling are used to across the three interventions. Results from the primary care residency intervention support further investment in colorectal cancer screening training for primary care residents. Results from the Studer Group’s ‘Evidence Based Leadership’ intervention demonstrate mixed results across change interventions and across categories of tenure, suggesting receptivity towards change and organization tenure is highly dependent upon the nuances of a specific change intervention. Finally, results from the implementation of the electronic health record demonstrate improved charge capture. We conclude that this further probing of popular innovations in the industry is warranted for multiple reasons. For one, it is entirely possible that social scientists and economists are prematurely ‘moving on’ to other innovations as soon they have published results from an initial round of inquiry. However, as we will demonstrate in our model, it is conceivable that after the “lights have dimmed” on an innovation’s initial glow, the artifacts of the innovation could very well continue to disrupt structures and processes long after its implementation. If these latent disruptions adversely affect the organization, one could argue that any initial positive impacts were likely overstated. Conversely, if these latent disruptions go on to produce additional benefit to the organization one could argue that any initial positive results were actually understated

Ringworm - occurrence, control and prevention in young cattle

Regular weekly observations of naturally occurring outbreaks of ringworm in young cattle over many years have provided detailed information on facets of the epizoology of the disease, control by therapy and preventive measures. The epizoology or distribution of the disease demonstrated an average incubation period of 28 days.\ud Sites of lesions aided detection of early disease with the predominant site for first lesions being around the eyes. In yearlings unusual sites for lesions included the perianal area and under the jaw. All with outbreaks were found to resolve / to spontaneous recovery and in these studies the mean duration of lesions was 4 weeks, duration in animals was 8 weeks, and in outbreaks 18 weeks, in untreated disease of naturally occurring outbreaks. These figures demonstrated the importance of determining spontaneous recovery in assessing the value of therapy in drug trials. Control by therapy was found to be variable and difficult if not supported by preventive measures. Controlled drug trials by strict regime have shown the effectiveness of Griseofulvin. However the use of Natamycin or Enilconazole was not so effective if treatment was delayed. Early therapy with copper naphthenate and cod liver oil was effective when supported by preventive measures. The major obstacle to control on calf and beef units appears to be the frequent introduction of infection via purchases of calves. Fifteen outbreaks were considered to be introduced through 45 group purchases in 3 years

Enhancing Export Potential for Northern Plains Mustard

International Relations/Trade,

The stoichiometry of P2X2/6 receptor heteromers depends on relative subunit expression levels

Fast synaptic transmission involves the operation of ionotropic receptors, which are often composed of at least two types of subunit. We have developed a method, based on atomic force microscopy imaging to determine the stoichiometry and subunit arrangement within ionotropic receptors. We showed recently that the P2X(2) receptor for ATP is expressed as a trimer but that the P2X(6) subunit is unable to oligomerize. In this study we addressed the subunit stoichiometry of heteromers containing both P2X(2) and P2X(6) subunits. We transfected tsA 201 cells with both P2X(2) and P2X(6) subunits, bearing different epitope tags. We manipulated the transfection conditions so that either P2X(2) or P2X(6) was the predominant subunit expressed. By atomic force microscopy imaging of isolated receptors decorated with antiepitope antibodies, we demonstrate that when expression of the P2X(2) subunit predominates, the receptors contain primarily 2 x P2X(2) subunits and 1 x P2X(6) subunit. In contrast, when the P2X(6) subunit predominates, the subunit stoichiometry of the receptors is reversed. Our results show that the composition of P2X receptor heteromers is plastic and dependent on the relative subunit expression levels. We suggest that this property of receptor assembly might introduce an additional layer of subtlety into P2X receptor signaling

Goal driven optimization of process parameters for maximum efficiency in laser bending of advanced high strength steels

Laser forming or bending is fast becoming an attractive option for the forming of advanced high strength steels (AHSS), due primarily to the reduced formability of AHSS when compared with conventional steels in traditional contact-based forming processes. An inherently iterative process, laser forming must be optimized for efficiency in order to compete with contact based forming processes; as such, a robust and accurate method of optimal process parameter prediction is required. In this paper, goal driven optimization is conducted, utilizing numerical simulations as the basis for the prediction of optimal process parameters for the laser bending of DP 1000 steel. A key consideration of the optimization process is the requirement for minimal microstructural transformation in automotive grade high strength steels such as DP 1000

Influenza neuraminidase is delivered directly to the apical surface of MDCK cell monolayers

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate whether influenza neuraminidase travels directly from the Golgi complex to the apical domain of the plasma membrane in virally infected epithelial (MDCK) cell monolayers, or whether it passes transiently through the basolateral domain. Using a new assay for the delivery of neuraminidase to the plasma membrane, we found that the time course of transport of this protein from the Golgi complex to the apical surface of MDCK cell monolayers was very similar to that for influenza haemagglutinin, which is known to be delivered directly to its destination. In addition, a similar time course of neuraminidase transport was found in BHK cells, which are not asymmetric and in which delivery must therefore be direct. Finally, basolateral exposure of MDCK cell monolayers grown on nitro-cellulose filters to an anti-neuraminidase antibody was shown to have no effect on the delivery of active neuraminidase to the apical surface. We conclude from these results that neuraminidase, like haemagglutinin, is delivered directly to the apical surface