Examining the Association between Parental Smoking and Adolescent Age of Smoking Initiation in Africa

Tobacco use is responsible for millions of preventable illnesses and deaths throughout the world. Nevertheless, multitudes of people begin smoking every day, most before reaching the age of 18. Previous research suggests that parental smoking status is a significant predictor of adolescent smoking. Furthermore, parental smoking status may also be associated with a younger age of smoking initiation, which increases a person’s risk of nicotine dependence, cancer, and death. This study examines the association between parental smoking and adolescent age of smoking initiation in 14 African countries. Data for this study was obtained from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey from 2003 – present. Parental smoking status was significantly associated with a younger age of adolescent smoking initiation; maternal smoking had a greater influence than paternal smoking. Gender was also significantly associated with age of initiation; girls are smoking at a younger age than boys. In addition, parental smoking was significantly associated with current smoking among adolescents. The tobacco industry is increasingly targeting these countries to market products to women and adolescents, among whom smoking prevalence is currently low. More rigorous examinations of the association between parent and adolescent smoking in developing countries are needed. Immediate and compelling interventions in the areas of education for parents and adolescents on the health consequences of smoking, access to cessation benefits, and policies to reduce the visibility of smoking are critical steps to preventing tobacco-related death and disease

Gender Influence on Perceptions of Healthy and Unhealthy Lifestyles

The purpose of this study was to determine if a gender bias exists in perceptions of a healthy vs. unhealthy lifestyle. The study was a 2 (male or female) x 2 (healthy or unhealthy) between subjects factorial design. College students (N = 53) read a scenario describing a lifestyle of a stimulus person. The participants then answered a 16-item questionnaire. The hypothesis that there is a gender difference in perceptions of a healthy lifestyle was not strongly supported. There was a strong main effect for the type of lifestyle with participants viewing the healthy lifestyle more positively. The hypothesis that participants who perceived themselves to be healthy would respond more positively to the description of the healthy lifestyle was supported for only two questions. In contrast to prior research, the results indicate that gender is not extremely important in regard to perceptions of an individual’s health

Revisiting hylomorphism: What can it contribute to our understanding of information systems?

Theorising about digital technology is core to the IS discipline. This paper presents an interpretation of technology using hylomorphism, the theory that material objects comprise both matter and form. A contemporary understanding of hylomorphism argues that the form of an object is dynamic structure, which may be actualised in the process of interacting with other objects. This paper arose out of a critical realist study on the use of technology in the classroom by senior secondary students in New Zealand. The role of theory in critical realism is outlined, and then the findings that stimulated this paper are presented. A brief history of hylomorphism is discussed before moving to the contemporary revival of Aristotelian theories. Some implications of this theory on IS research are presented, including an outline of emergence and methodological considerations

Putting it all together: intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms governing proteasome biogenesis

Background The 26S proteasome is at the heart of the ubiquitin-proteasome system, which is the key cellular pathway for the regulated degradation of proteins and enforcement of protein quality control. The 26S proteasome is an unusually large and complicated protease comprising a 28-subunit core particle (CP) capped by one or two 19-subunit regulatory particles (RP). Multiple activities within the RP process incoming ubiquitinated substrates for eventual degradation by the barrel-shaped CP. The large size and elaborate architecture of the proteasome have made it an exceptional model for understanding mechanistic themes in macromolecular assembly. Objective In the present work, we highlight the most recent mechanistic insights into proteasome assembly, with particular emphasis on intrinsic and extrinsic factors regulating proteasome biogenesis. We also describe new and exciting questions arising about how proteasome assembly is regulated and deregulated in normal and diseased cells. Methods A comprehensive literature search using the PubMed search engine was performed, and key findings yielding mechanistic insight into proteasome assembly were included in this review. Results Key recent studies have revealed that proteasome biogenesis is dependent upon intrinsic features of the subunits themselves as well as extrinsic factors, many of which function as dedicated chaperones. Conclusion Cells rely on a diverse set of mechanistic strategies to ensure the rapid, efficient, and faithful assembly of proteasomes from their cognate subunits. Importantly, physiological as well as pathological changes to proteasome assembly are emerging as exciting paradigms to alter protein degradation in vivo

Advancing Health Policy and Advocacy Education in Medical School through a Student-run Elective

Introduction: Training medical students in the policy topics of healthcare economics, delivery systems, disparities, and reform helps to prepare them for the growing role of advocacy in medicine. We used a near-peer educational model to create an elective to advance learners’ policy knowledge and advocacy skills, while simultaneously offering student directors hands-on experience in educational program development. Methods: The 4-week elective for fourth year medical students included weekly readings, policy seminars, advocacy workshops, and journal clubs. Longitudinally, students prepared for a policy debate and prepared a research project or Op-Ed article on a healthcare disparity topic of their choice. The elective was designed, coordinated, and implemented by a team of first, second, third, and fourth-year medical students with faculty adviser oversight. Pre- and post-surveys were utilized to assess student learners’ knowledge of subject material and their perceptions of the effectiveness of the curriculum. Student directors self-assessed their confidence with the subject material and acquired skill in educational program development. Results: Student learners (n=6) noted significant improvement in their knowledge of health policy (P=0.0002) and advocacy (P=0.0064). They also reported improvement in several subtopics under policy and advocacy, with significant improvements seen in healthcare reform (P=0.0131) and writing skills (P=0.0099). Student directors (n=4) reported improved skills in curriculum development, educational evaluation, and leadership. Discussion: This novel student-run elective provided effective training in health policy and advocacy that extends beyond traditional curricula in medical school. Employing a near-peer model, the elective offers a sustainable system to educate interested students in these subjects and provide student directors unique experience in medical education. Further evaluation of future iterations will help determine the effectiveness of the curriculum in advancing individual policy and advocacy subtopics to guide future curricular modifications

Defining Terms Used for Animals Working in Support Roles for People with Support Needs

The nomenclature used to describe animals working in roles supporting people can be confusing. The same term may be used to describe different roles, or two terms may mean the same thing. This confusion is evident among researchers, practitioners, and end users. Because certain animal roles are provided with legal protections and/or government-funding support in some jurisdictions, it is necessary to clearly define the existing terms to avoid confusion. The aim of this paper is to provide operationalized definitions for nine terms, which would be useful in many world regions: “assistance animal”, “companion animal”, “educational/school support animal”, “emotional support animal”, “facility animal”, “service animal”, “skilled companion animal”, “therapy animal”, and “visiting/visitation animal”. At the International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ) conferences in 2018 and 2020, over 100 delegates participated in workshops to define these terms, many of whom co-authored this paper. Through an iterative process, we have defined the nine terms and explained how they differ from each other. We recommend phasing out two terms (i.e., “skilled companion animal” and “service animal”) due to overlap with other terms that could potentially exacerbate confusion. The implications for several regions of the world are discussed

The Grizzly, September 19, 2019

Two Decades of Ursinus Fringe Festival • Professor Walvoord Wins First-Year Advising Award • Men\u27s Golf Competes at Spartan Invitational • Shammah Bermudez Will Depart from Ursinus • Res Life Launches It\u27s On Me Campaign • Wismer Feeds More than Ursinus Students • Opinion: Andrew Yang, Promising or Placebo?; Why Ursinus Could Use a Shuttle Bus System • Football Shoots Past Gettysburg • Thirteen in the Nation, One in Our Heartshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1935/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, September 12, 2019

The Commons is Coming • Ursinus Celebrates its 150th Birthday • High Expectations for Women\u27s Field Hockey • Proposal Submission Deadline for Ursinus\u27 Inclusive Community Grants is Approaching • Berman Exhibit Lands on Campus • Who ya Gonna Call? Campus Safety • Opinions: Is Climate Anxiety the New Nuclear Anxiety?; Meatless Options: A Positive Trend • A Promising Start for Ursinus Men\u27s Soccer • Senior Spotlight: Tom Garlickhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1588/thumbnail.jp