The long term effects of racial socialization of African American sons through communication patterns from their mothers

This study explored the long-term effects of racial socialization patterns from African American mothers to their sons to discover whether they are enhancing or impeding the wellbeing the African American males. While several distinct socialization types emerge throughout the literature with egalitarian, and barrier socialization messages predominating, the measures have focused primarily on the effects of racial socialization on academic performance. This qualitative study attempted to illuminate a gap in the literature: the long-term effects of mother to son racial socialization messages as evidenced by the limited research examining the later life experiences of adult African American men. The results of this study support the literature with the discovery of consistent examples of early racial socialization patterns from African American mothers to sons continuing to be a protective factor well into the middle stages of adulthood. These findings allow for the development of a more culturally sensitive and competent treatment modality for victims of racism, accessible through all stages of adulthood

Using participatory research and gender analysis in natural resource management

The use of participatory tools and methods has increased dramatically in natural resource management (NRM) over the past decade, largely because of the recognition that sustainable NRM cannot be achieved without involving the individuals and communities who make decisions about how resources are used. Participation of resource users and other stakeholders is important not only in the management of resources, but also in research oriented toward the generation of information and innovations that shape how resources are understood and exploited. Although there is extensive literature on participatory tools and methods and a growing number of case studies of their use in NRM (Hinchcliffe et al; IDRC; Pretty), it is difficult to form a coherent overview of this body of work, much of which is unpublished. Moreover, the distinction between participatory research and participatory management is seldom made, either in case studies or in the guides to tools and methods. Yet participatory management that is not firmly linked to research—understood as a process of knowledge generation that supports technical and institutional innovation—is often hindered by a lack of new technical options, information and institutions. There has been little systematic analysis of how participatory research (PR) methods and gender/stakeholder analysis (GSA) are being used in NRM research. 1 This study begins to fill the gap by providing a comparative analysis of over 60 participatory NRM research projects compiled by the Systemwide Program on Participatory Research and Gender Analysis (PRGA). The paper looks at who is doing PR research and GSA in NRM, where, how and with what observed or expected impact. Projects are assessed in terms of the type of participation they use, how they select participants, and whom they target as beneficiaries. The costs and benefits associated with incorporating user participation are also analyzed

Distinction of disorder, classical and quantum vibrational contributions to atomic mean-square amplitudes in dielectric pentachloronitrobenzene

The solid-state molecular disorder of pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) and its role in causing anomalous dielectric properties are investigated. Normal coordinate analysis (NCA) of atomic mean-square displacement parameters (ADPs) is employed to distinguish disorder contributions from classical and quantum-mechanical vibrational contributions. The analysis relies on multitemperature (5-295 K) single-crystal neutron-diffraction data. Vibrational frequencies extracted from the temperature dependence of the ADPs are in good agreement with THz spectroscopic data. Aspects of the static disorder revealed by this work, primarily tilting and displacement of the molecules, are compared with corresponding results from previous, much more in-depth and time-consuming Monte Carlo simulations; their salient findings are reproduced by this work, demonstrating that the faster NCA approach provides reliable constraints for the interpretation of diffuse scattering. The dielectric properties of PCNB can thus be rationalized by an interpretation of the temperature-dependent ADPs in terms of thermal motion and molecular disorder. The use of atomic displacement parameters in the NCA approach is nonetheless hostage to reliable neutron data. The success of this study demonstrates that state-of-the-art single-crystal Laue neutron diffraction affords sufficiently fast the accurate data for this type of study. In general terms, the validation of this work opens up the field for numerous studies of solid-state molecular disorder in organic materials.Comment: Now published in Physical Review

Magnetism and Mössbauer study of formation of multi-core γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles

A systematic investigation of magnetic nanoparticles and the formation of a core-shell structure, consisting of multiple maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles as the core and silica as the shell, has been performed using various techniques. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy clearly shows isolated maghemite nanoparticles with an average diameter of 13?nm and the formation of a core-shell structure. Low temperature Mössbauer spectroscopy reveals the presence of pure maghemite nanoparticles with all vacancies at the B-sites. Isothermal magnetization and zero-field-cooled and field-cooled measurements are used for investigating the magnetic properties of the nanoparticles. The magnetization results are in good accordance with the contents of the magnetic core and the non-magnetic shell. The multiple-core γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles show similar behavior to isolated particles of the same size.We thank the assistance by Dr. Peter Klavins at the Department of Physics, the University of California Davis, in performing the magnetization measurements. This research was partially supported by the Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Energy Program, under Grant No. DE-NE000070

INTERVERTEBRAL AND INTRAVERTEBRAL RATIOS IN DOBERMAN PINSCHER DOGS WITH CERVICAL SPONDYLOMYELOPATHY

No screening method is currently available to differentiate dogs with and without cervical spondylomyelopathy. Intravertebral and intervertebral ratios are used in horses and can predict cervical vertebral malformation. Intervertebral ratios could be a useful screening method for canine cervical spondylomyelopathy. Our purpose was to compare cervical intervertebral and intravertebral ratios in normal vs. affected Doberman pinschers. Forty dogs were studied, 27 affected and 13 normal. Cervical radiographs were obtained in all dogs. The minimum intra-and intervertebral sagittal diameter ratios were established for each cervical vertebrae and disc space from C 2 to C 7 . Comparisons were made between groups and specific vertebral body and disc levels. The effect of gender, age, and method of measurement (analog or digital radiographs) was also studied. There was no difference in either the intervertebral or intravertebral ratio between normal vs. affected dogs. The ratios decreased progressively along the cervical spine, being smallest at C 6 -C 7 and C 7 , respectively. Age, gender, and method of measurement had a significant influence on both inter-and intravertebral ratios, with smaller ratios seen as dogs aged and in male dogs. Based on our results, inter-or intravertebral ratios have no value to distinguish between clinically normal Doberman pinschers and Doberman pinschers with cervical spondylomyelopathy. C 2012 Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound

How involved are husbands in antenatal care? the perspective of women availing antenatal services at a maternity hospital in rural South Karnataka, India

Background: Male involvement in maternal health is associated with significant positive health outcomes in the mother. We aimed to assess the antenatal womens’ perception of their husbands’ involvement in antenatal care in a maternity hospital in rural Karnataka, India.Methods: 200 pregnant women in a maternity hospital in Karnataka were interviewed using a semi-structured pilot tested questionnaire on their perception about their husbands’ participation in antenatal care.Results: The mean score of women’s perception of husband’s awareness of antenatal care was 10.1±2.2 out of a maximum of 12, while that of husband’s attitude to antenatal care was 7.7±1.4 out of a maximum of 9 and of husband’s participation was 21.7±5.4 out of a maximum of 30. The score of perception of husband’s awareness was significantly higher among multigravidae and among women who had a planned pregnancy. The score of perception of husband’s attitude was significantly higher among women from nuclear families, multigravidae, those with a living child and those with no complications in the current pregnancy. The score of perception of husband’s participation was significantly higher among women with no complications in the current pregnancy.Conclusions: Husbands play a vital role in the antenatal care of their wives. This should be harnessed by health care workers by providing health education to them, encouraging husbands to accompany their wives to antenatal checkups and labour and promptly communicating clinical findings to them

Implementation-effectiveness trial of an ecological intervention for physical activity in ethnically diverse low income senior centers.

BackgroundAs the US population ages, there is an increasing need for evidence based, peer-led physical activity programs, particularly in ethnically diverse, low income senior centers where access is limited.Methods/designThe Peer Empowerment Program 4 Physical Activity' (PEP4PA) is a hybrid Type II implementation-effectiveness trial that is a peer-led physical activity (PA) intervention based on the ecological model of behavior change. The initial phase is a cluster randomized control trial randomized to either a peer-led PA intervention or usual center programming. After 18 months, the intervention sites are further randomized to continued support or no support for another 6 months. This study will be conducted at twelve senior centers in San Diego County in low income, diverse communities. In the intervention sites, 24 peer health coaches and 408 adults, aged 50 years and older, are invited to participate. Peer health coaches receive training and support and utilize a tablet computer for delivery and tracking. There are several levels of intervention. Individual components include pedometers, step goals, counseling, and feedback charts. Interpersonal components include group walks, group sharing and health tips, and monthly celebrations. Community components include review of PA resources, walkability audit, sustainability plan, and streetscape improvements. The primary outcome of interest is intensity and location of PA minutes per day, measured every 6 months by wrist and hip accelerometers and GPS devices. Secondary outcomes include blood pressure, physical, cognitive, and emotional functioning. Implementation measures include appropriateness & acceptability (perceived and actual fit), adoption & penetration (reach), fidelity (quantity & quality of intervention delivered), acceptability (satisfaction), costs, and sustainability.DiscussionUsing a peer led implementation strategy to deliver a multi-level community based PA program can enhance program adoption, implementation, and sustainment.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, USA ( NCT02405325 ). Date of registration, March 20, 2015. This website also contains all items from the World Health Organization Trial Registration Data Set